Fumaria officinalis

Fumaria officinalis, the common fumitory, drug fumitory or earth smoke, is a herbaceous annual flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is the most common species of the genus Fumaria in Western and Central Europe.

Description

A robust herb with weak stems. It is an annual plant and is sprawling or climbing. The leaves are grey-green and finely divided. They are 5-15 cm long. The flowers are pink and 7 mm long. They are in dense elongated groups.

Edible Uses

The fresh or dried herb works as a curdling agent for plant milks. Add a few sprays per litre of liquid and leave until the milk has soured thickly, then remove the sprays. It imparts a tangy flavour, acts as a preservative, and prevents the rancid taste that can develop in soured milk.

Traditional Uses

The plant including flowers is added to sour milk to impart flavour and after the milk has soured thickly the plant is removed. It gives a tangy taste and acts as a preservative. Leaves can be used fresh or dried. They are used in salads and pies.

Medicinal Uses

Fumitory has been prized since at least Roman times for its tonic and blood-cleansing properties. It is especially useful for treating visceral obstructions (particularly those of the liver), scorbutic conditions, and troublesome skin diseases, especially eczema, which can be treated both internally and externally. The herb is antispasmodic, aperient, cholagogue, mildly diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, laxative, and weakly tonic. It is harvested as flowering begins in summer and can be used fresh or dried. Caution is warranted with excessive doses, as these cause hypnotic and sedative effects, particularly when the herb is taken for more than around 8 days.

Known Hazards

Avoid in those with fits and epilepsy. Contraindicated with glaucoma patients. Avoid during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Allopathic medication for high blood pressure - effects increased.

Distribution

It is a temperate climate plant. It needs a light, well-drained soil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Chile, Estonia, Europe, Iran, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Middle East, Mongolia, North Africa, North America, South America, Taiwan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay,

Cultivation

Prefers a light well-drained soil in a sunny position. This plant can be a common weed in some gardens, self-sowing freely, though it is fairly easy to control by hand weeding. The flowers are seldom visited by insects, but they are self-fertile and usually set every seed.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring directly in situ. In practice, the plant self-sows freely and typically establishes and maintains itself without any intervention.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers. A decoction of the herb makes a curative lotion for milk-crust on babies' scalps.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ahtere, Kolmekorraline hain, Sahtere

References (11)

• Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 218
• Dogan, Y., et al, 2004, The Use of Wild Edible Plants in Western and Central Anatolia (Turkey). Economic Botany 58(4) pp. 684-690
• Dogan, Y., 2012, Traditionally used wild edible greens in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 81(4): 329-342
• Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 117

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