Echinophora spinosa
L.
Apiaceae
Selinum spinosum (L.) E.H.L.Krause
Common Name:
General Information
Echinophora spinosa is a much-branched, spiny, perennial plant that can grow up to 45cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. An essential oil obtained from the plant has been shown to have antibacterial and antifungal applications[
1202- Title
- Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Echinophora spinosa L. (Apiaceae) Essential Oil
- Publication
- Rec. Nat. Prod. 5:4 (2011) 319-323
- Author
- Jasmina M. Glamočlija, Marina D. Soković et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
Range
Mediterranean - Spain to Greece, Algeria
Habitat
Maritime sands[
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Edible Uses
Root[
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. A parsnip flavour[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
].
Young leaves - pickled[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].
Medicinal
The aerial parts of the plant contain an essential oil. The main components of this oil are gamma-carene (60.86 %), alpha-phellandrene (7.12%), p-cymene (6.22 %), myrcene (4.82 %) and beta-phellandrene (2.73 %). The oil has been shown to be an effective antimicrobial[
1202- Title
- Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Echinophora spinosa L. (Apiaceae) Essential Oil
- Publication
- Rec. Nat. Prod. 5:4 (2011) 319-323
- Author
- Jasmina M. Glamočlija, Marina D. Soković et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division
Root cuttings in the winter.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
