Vincetoxicum hirundinaria

'Swallow Wort'

Apocynaceae: a twining long-lived perennial to 70cm, with a stem that is erect, stout and glabrous. Found on cliffs and slopes, especially in calcareous soils. Flowers in whorls form a raceme, flowers are 1cm across, with five white petals, and sharp-pointed sepals. Blooming from June-July. Fruits reach a length of about 5cm and contain many seeds showing a tuft of white hairs. The leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate and short-stalked. Native to continental Eurasia (including some Baltic islands). It is not present in Great Britain and Ireland. There are introduced populations in North America (Ontario, Michigan, and New York).

USES:

Vincetoxicum hirundinaria is a venomous plant traditionally used in treating diseases and in magic. The plant was mentioned by Pedanius Dioscorides as a traditional plant used by Dacians and known as "ZOO-USTE", the "herb of animals", believed to open any locked door.

NOTE: some literature state that this plant is poisonous.

GROWING INFORMATION:

About 1/3 germinate without treatment or use GA-3 or 8 weeks prechill to germinate in 1-3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, in full sun or part shade.

HARVESTED: 2023*

 

APPROX. 20 SEEDS