Onosma hispidum
Wall.
Boraginaceae
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:
General Information
Onosma hispidum is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.40 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine
Known Hazards
There are no reports of toxicity for this species, but the following report for O. echioides should be borne in mind[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The bristly stems and leaves can cause a good deal of irritation to the skin[
219- Title
- Gardening on Walls
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
- Publisher
- Collins
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-00-219220-0
- Description
- A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].
Botanical References
51- Title
- Flowers of the Himalayas.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
- Publisher
- Oxford Universtiy Press
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.
Range
E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat
Dry, rocky and savannah slopes, 1700 - 2000 metres in Kashmir[
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
]. Found at elevations up to 4000 metres[
51- Title
- Flowers of the Himalayas.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
- Publisher
- Oxford Universtiy Press
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Requires a well-drained soil in full sun[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
187- Title
- Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-330-30936-9
- Description
- Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
]. Prefers a deep rather rich sandy loam[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Best grown in a crevice in a rock garden or on a wall[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
187- Title
- Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-330-30936-9
- Description
- Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
]. Tolerates hot dry conditions and also drought once it is established, but disliking winter wet[
190- Title
- The Dry Garden.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chatto. B.
- Publisher
- Dent
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0460045512
- Description
- A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.
]. Plants also dislike wet summers[
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.
].
Edible Uses
Root[
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
]. Used as a flavouring.
Medicinal
One report says that the plant has medicinal properties but gives no details[
145- Title
- Forest Flora of Srinagar.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in early summer.
Cuttings in a frame in the summer. Shade them for the first 10 - 12 days[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
