Reseda luteola L.
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Reseda luteola

Family: RESEDACEAE
Genus: Reseda
Species: luteola L.
Common names: Dyer's Rocket
Distribution summary: N.Africa to Pakistan
Habit: Biennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Scrub and waste land
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Europe & Middle East (J), Plane tree bed (P)
Flowering months: June, July, August
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use

Additional Notes

Reseda lutea L. Resedaceae Wild Mignonette. Dyers Rocket. Herbaceous plant. Distribution: Eurasia and North Africa. This plant, and in particular R. LUTEOLA, is the source of 'weld' a yellow dye from luteolin a flavonoid in the sap. It is said to have been used since the first millennium BC, but curiously Dioscorides, Lyte, Gerard, Lobel, Fuchs, Coles, Quincy, Linnaeus (1782) either do not mention it or make it synonymous with Eruca, Rocket, and make no reference to it as a dye source. The name Resedo means 'I sit up' in Latin, which Stearn (1994) interprets as 'I heal' which makes its absence even more strange. It is noted as the dye source by Bentley (1861).

Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. Link

In traditional medicine this plant is considered a mild narcotic .

http://www.pfaf.org, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Reseda+luteola

This was used in traditional medicine, as documented by 17th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper in his herbal. ' The root cures tough phlegm, digests raw phlegm, thius gross humours, dissolves hard tumours, and opens obstructions.'

Culpeper (attributed to) , N. Culpeper's Complete Herbal. W. Foulsham, London. p.385

Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt

Africa, Northern Africa, Libya

Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco

Asia-Temperate, Caucasus

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Afghanistan

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iraq

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Israel

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Jordan

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan

Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic

Europe, Middle Europe, Slovakia

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia

Europe, Southwestern Europe, France

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

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