Pulicaria dysenterica - Fleabane

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.6
Synonyms:	Inula dysenterica.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Denmark south and east to N. Africa, Caucasus and W. Asia.

Pulicaria dysenterica (Fleabane) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 7and is vunerable to frost.
Fleabane will flower in February to March. the seeds ripen from March to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, self

Soil Information

Fleabane will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Fleabane prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Fleabane should not be planted in shady areas.

Marshes, wet meadows, ditches etc, avoiding calcareous soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Suits a meadow
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[200]. Plants can be invasive, spreading freely at the roots.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The bruised leaves have a soap-like smell[4]. They are astringent and can be used in the treatment of dysentery[4]. The root is also astringent and used in the treatment of dysentery[240]. A paste of the plant is applied externally to wounds[272].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have plenty of seed then it can be sown in situ in the spring. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The plant is burnt to repel parasites[4, 100].

• Repellent - Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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