Elecampane

Table of Contents

1. Description
2. Origin
3. Uses
4. Culture
5. Sources
6. Thanks to...

Inula helenium
Family: Compositae

Common names: yellow starwort, elf dock, horse elder, scabwort, alle campane, July campare, elicompane, dock, horse heal.

Description

Elecampane is a hardy, herbaceous perennial with a strong, round, coarse, woolly stem. Leaves are pointed and slightly toothed, growing 30 - 60 cm. long, with a bristly upper surface and velvety under surface. Flowers are yellow and daisy-like. Root is about 30 cm. long and very thick at the crown with numerous lateral roots.

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Origin

Eurasia: Elecampane originated in Asia but through cultivation has spread across Western Europe to North America, and now grows wild from Nova Scotia to Ontario. Elecampane is known mostly as a medicinal herb and an ornamental perennial. There is not a large market for this herb and according to Sturdivant and Blakley (1998) it is not likely to expand. Elecampane was used by the ancient Romans, Greeks and in Europe during the middle ages as a cure for a variety of ailments. Elecampane contains inulin, essential oils; camphor (azulene upon distillation), sesquiterpene lactones (alantolactone).

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Uses of Elecampane and Claims

• Culinary: roots have been used as a flavouring for desserts, fish sauces, can be candied or made into a cordial.
• Medicinal: roots are believed to be expectorant, diuretic, relaxes spasms, reduces inflammation, increases perspiration, effective against bacterial and fungal infections, acts as an alterative, cleanses toxins and stimulates the immune and digestive systems; taken internally for bronchitis, hay fever, irritant coughs, asthma, tuberculosis, pleurisy, excess mucus, weak digestion; not given to pregnant women.
• Industrial: ornamental, cut flower, flowers yiels a yellow/orange dye. The oil may be used in perfumery.

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Culture

• Propagation: Elecampane can be propagated from seeds or division. The seed of Elecampane is similar to the dandelion in that when the seeds mature they can be seen flying all over the garden. Flats are ready to be transplanted in 8 to 12 weeks. A two-year old plant may yield about 12 divisions.
• Soil type: It prefers a sunny site with moist but well-drained clay loam soils and a pH of 4.5-7.0.
• Cultivation: Space plants 30 - 45 cm. in the row and 60 - 75 cm. between rows.
• Harvest: The root is dug in the fall, used fresh for extracts or syrup, dried for decoctions, liquid extracts, tinctures or powders. Flower heads are picked at full bloom and dried whole to use for infusions and powders. Flowers contain irritant fibres and should be prepared using a muslin bag.

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Sources

• Bremness, L. 1994. Herbs. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London.
• Brown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Readers Digest press.
• Keville, K. 1994. Herbs an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Friedman/Fairfax publishers.
• Kowalchik, C. and W. H. Hylton Eds. 1998. Rodale's illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press.
• McVicar J. 1998. Jekka's Complete Herb Book. Raincoast Books
• Richters Herb Catalogue 1998.
• Sturdivant, L, T. Blakely 1999. Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field & Marketplace. San Juan Naturals.

Thanks to

This demonstration garden was a result of the efforts of Dr. Alan McKeown, Vegetable Scientist, University of Guelph and was made possible with grants from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Tobacco Diversification Program.

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