Daphne gnidium
L.
Thymelaeaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Flax-Leaved Daphne
General Information
Daphne gnidium is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..
Known Hazards
All parts of the plant are poisonous[
76- Title
- Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cooper. M. and Johnson. A.
- Publisher
- HMSO
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0112425291
- Description
- Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
].
The plant contains tannin, a vesicant resin, daphnetoxin and mezerin. In excess it can cause headaches, shivering, paleness, pupil dilation, diarrhoea, convulsions, pulmonary disorders, difficulty of deglutition and death[
1314- Title
- Toxic effect of some medicinal plants used in Moroccan traditional medicine
- Publication
- Moroccan J. Biol. 2-3 (2006) 21-30
- Author
- Mohamed Bnouham; Fatima Zahra Merhfour; Mostafa Elachoui; Ab
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in some people[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
S. Europe, N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat
Grows with other evergreen shrubs on shallow, stony soils, often on hillsides.
Properties
Medicinal Rating |  |
Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
Height | 1.50 m |
Pollinators | Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a well-drained but moisture-retentive slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. A good sandy loam suits most members of the genus[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c, it should succeed outdoors in the milder areas of the country[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible[
188- Title
- The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Brickell. C.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-86318-386-7
- Description
- Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
].
The flowers, which are produced in terminal clusters, are sweetly scented[
245- Title
- Scented Flora of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Genders. R.
- Publisher
- Robert Hale. London.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0-7090-5440-8
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant contains toxic compounds that are being investigated for anti-leukaemia effects[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The leaves are used in the treatment of tinea[
1314- Title
- Toxic effect of some medicinal plants used in Moroccan traditional medicine
- Publication
- Moroccan J. Biol. 2-3 (2006) 21-30
- Author
- Mohamed Bnouham; Fatima Zahra Merhfour; Mostafa Elachoui; Ab
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Some caution should be employed in the use of this plant - see notes above on toxicity[
1314- Title
- Toxic effect of some medicinal plants used in Moroccan traditional medicine
- Publication
- Moroccan J. Biol. 2-3 (2006) 21-30
- Author
- Mohamed Bnouham; Fatima Zahra Merhfour; Mostafa Elachoui; Ab
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The leaves are used in hair care[
1314- Title
- Toxic effect of some medicinal plants used in Moroccan traditional medicine
- Publication
- Moroccan J. Biol. 2-3 (2006) 21-30
- Author
- Mohamed Bnouham; Fatima Zahra Merhfour; Mostafa Elachoui; Ab
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. No more information is given
Propagation
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe with the pot sealed in a polythene bag to hold in the moisture. Remove this bag as soon as germination takes place[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. The seed usually germinates better if it is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it dries on the plant) and sown immediately. Germination should normally take place by spring, though it sometimes takes a further year. Stored seed is more problematic. It should be warm stratified for 8 - 12 weeks at 20°c followed by 12 - 14 weeks at 3°c. Germination may still take another 12 months or more at 15°c[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame.
Root cuttings, December in a greenhouse.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.