Alkanna tinctoria - Alcanette

Habitat

Exposition

Plein soleil ou mi-ombre

Vent

Tolère un peu de vent

Humidité

Sol sec à moyen. Tolère la sécheresse.

Sol

Sol léger à moyen. Nécessite un sol drainant. Tolère les sols pauvres.

pH

Sols non acides

Habitat originel

Maritime sands, uncultivated ground[45], calcareous soils[89] and pine forests[238].

Origine géographique

Sud de l'Europe.

Dangers connus

• Many members of this plant family contain a liver-damaging alkaloid and so internal usage is inadvisable [238].

Comestibilité

• Used as a vegetable [177].
• Pas plus d'information n'est donnée .
• A red dye obtained from the roots is used as a food colouring [238].

Usages médicinaux

• The root is antibacterial, antipruritic, astringent and vulnerary[238].It is used externally in the treatment of varicose veins, indolent ulcers, bed sores and itching rashes [238].
• The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use [238].

Autres usages

• A red dye is obtained from the roots[57, 89, 171], it is used by pharmacists as well as in perfumes and to stain wood or marble [100, 238].
• The dye is also used in thermometers[100] and as a litmus to test for acids and alkalines [148].
• It can make wood look like rosewood or mahogany [4, 148].

Culture

• Prefers a well-drained sandy or loamy soil[1] in sun or partial shade [238].
• Dislikes acid soils[1] but thrives in alkaline soils [238].
• A very drought tolerant plant when established[200], succeeding in a hot dry position[187], it is a useful plant for dry sandy or alkaline soils [238].
• Plants are hardy to about -10°c [187].
• This species is occasionally cultivated as a dye plant [61].
• One report says that it is cultivated for its seed [46].

Propagation

• Graine - Semez au printemps sous un chassis .
• Quand elles sont suffisamment développées pour être manipulées, repiquez les jeunes pousses en pots individuels et plantez les en extérieur durant l'été .
• Division au printemps .
• Fairly easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required .
• Basal cuttings of new growth in late spring .
• Harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long and pot them up into individual pots in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse .
• They should root well within a few weeks and can be planted out in the summer [K].
• Root cuttings in late winter [200].