Opopanax chironium

Opopanax chironium
Opopanax chironium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Opopanax
Species:
O. chironium
Binomial name
Opopanax chironium
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Dorema chironium (L.) M.Hiroe
  • Laserpitium chironium L.
  • Malabaila opoponax Baill.
  • Malabaila orientalis Benth. & Hook.f. ex Arcang.
  • Maspeton chironium (L.) Raf.
  • Opopanax bulgaricus Velen.
  • Opopanax chironium subsp. bulgaricus (Velen.) N.Andreev
  • Opopanax glaber Bernh.
  • Opopanax opopanax (L.) H.Karst., not validly publ.
  • Pastinaca altissima Lam.
  • Pastinaca opopanax L.
  • Peucedanum opopanax (L.) M.Hiroe
  • Selinum opopanax (L.) Crantz
  • Siler chironium Crantz

Opopanax chironium, common name Hercules' all-heal,[2] is a herb of the family Apiaceae.

Description

Opopanax chironium grows 1–3 metres (3 feet 3 inches – 9 feet 10 inches) high.[3] This perennial herb has a branching stem, thick and rough close to the base. Leaves are serrate, pinnate, with long petioles. It produces a large, flat, yellow inflorescence at the top of the branches.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

The plant thrives in warm climates like Iran, Italy, Greece and Turkey, but also grows in cooler climates.[2][4]

Uses

A gum resin (mostly gum) can be extracted from this plant by cutting at the base of a stem and sun-drying the juice that flows out. It has a strong unpleasant odor, unlike the perfumery's opopanax which is aromatic.[3]

Flowers of Opopanax chironium

The resin has been used in the treatment of spasms,[4] and, before that, as an emmenagogue, in the treatment of asthma, chronic visceral infections, hysteria and hypochondria.[3] Opopanax resin is most frequently sold in dried irregular pieces, though tear-shaped gems are not uncommon.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Opopanax chironium (L.) W.D.J.Koch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Opopanax chironium". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Remington, J.P.; Wood, H.C. (1918). The Dispensatory of the United States of America (20th ed.). Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 1526.
  4. ^ a b c d "A Modern Herbal | Opoponax". botanical.com. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  5. ^ "Opopònaco - Significato ed etimologia - Vocabolario". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-11-03.

Further reading

  • Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora Europaea.