Peucedanum ostruthium (L) Kock Masterwort
NOMENCLATURE
Peucedanum : from Latin .peucedonoides, from Greek, __________ resembling hairy string.
ostrithium: from latin, ostreatus rough, hard. Masterwort a master healing plant.
PREVIOUS NAMES: Imperatoria ostrithium (L).
OTHER NAMES the imperatoria. Fellon grass, (Yks, Lakes,
Cumb, Rox). Fellonwort, fellonwood, (Cumb).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS
TYPE: erect- or<downy perennial 30-400cm
STEMS: hollow, ridges, striate purplish below.
UMBELS: 5-10cm diameter.. Rays 30-60.
LEAVES: shiny bright green. 1-2 ternate. Lower 30-34 cm, segments 4-10cm, few,
lanceolate to ovate, unequal at base, irregularly biserrate, teeth with long cartilaginous
point, the middle lobes 3-fid lateral 2-fid. The margins and veins cilioate beneath Petiole
long; inflated sheathing base. Upper leaves small, 4 with pinnatifid lobes, petiole inflated
sheathing. Cotyledons contracted into a petiole.
BRACTS: 0 (2) Bracteoles few, linear
FLOWERS: white/pinkish.Calyx teeth small or 0. Petals, long stylopodium. Fl. 3-4 or 9-10.
FRUIT: 3.5-5mm suborbicular dorsally compressed, smooth. Commisure broad.
Mericarps prominent dorsal ridges, winged lateral ridges, wings as wide as mericarps, flat,
closely appressed, thin. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels > than fruit, smooth.
Styles 2 x as stylopodium, recurved, slender. Stigma capitate. 2n=22.
HABITAT: moist meadows, river banks grassy places, ditches.
DISTRIBUTION: introduced for cu1tivation, now naturalised N. England, Scotland. Local.
Mountains of C. & S. Europe. Introduced in many temperate countries.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: essential oil., bitter principles, tannin, resin, fatty oil, hesperidin.
EFFECT: digestant, expectorant, gastric, sedative,, diuretic.
PARTS: rhizome Cut, shred and dry
APPLICATION: flatulence, indigestion, lack of appetite, bronchial catarrh decoction
1-2 tspn per cup boil, simmer, stand 10 min 2-4 :times day. Contained in proprietary
H brands, homeopathy, herbal liquors
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Gerard : “Rootes, leaves stamped dissolve and cure all pestilentiall carbuncles and. botches & such .
Culpepper : “Decoction in wine for cold rheums, distillation of lungs, shortness of breath, dropsy, cramp, falling sickness, kidney, uterine troubles, gout cold poisons I,-;
Stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative. Used in asthma, dyspepsia, menstrual complaints.
