Fumitory

Botanical Name: Fumaria officinalis

Family: Fumariaceae

Other Names: Beggarry, common fumitory, earth smoke, fumus, fumus terre, hedge fumitory, Indian fumitory, kaphnos, nidor, scheiteregi, vapours of the earth, wax dolls

Habitat: Wastelands, fields

Description: Annual hairless up to 30cm/1ft weak Root: yellow, small stems, upright and branched. Leaves: alternate, stalked, pinnate blue/green feathery: Flowers: slender, tubular, two lipped, short spikes pink/white tipped purple Sepals-2 ovate to lanceloate up to 3-5mm long, green, acuminate. 4 petals up to 9mm May Fruit: globular

Native to: Britain, Europe

Cultivation: Light soil

Parts used: Aerial parts

Harvesting: June-September

Actions: Alterative, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative, stomachic, tonic

Constituents: Alkaloids, mucilage, fumaric acid, amino acids, resin

Isoquinoline alkaloid –bulbocapnine, canadine, coptisine, corydaline, dicentrine, cryptopine, fumaricine, fumariline, fumarititine, N-methylhydrastine, protopine, sanguinarine, sinactine.

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives

Mucilage

Skin: Skin

Genito-urinary: Kidneys, gallbladder

Other Notes: Opinions differ as to the origins of the name, some believes its because people believed it grew from the vapours of the earth, others that the leaves look like wisps of smoke others that the smoke created when burning its leaves could drive away evil spirits

The flowers can be to make yellow dye

It is burnt during exorcisms as it said to dispel all evil spirits

It is also used magically to attract wealth

Planet: Saturn     Element: Earth

Caution: Use only under the guidance of a professional