A. arvensis
         C. segetum
         C. spinosum
         P. dysenterica
         S. asper
         T. hybridum
         T. porrifolius

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Unless otherwise noted, all pictures on this site were taken in Pelion, Greece, shown on the map below.

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View images of the Common Toad, an ugly, bulky, but really sweet creature with an interesting... nightlife.

  Veggie of the Month

Learn about the Salsify, a beautiful plant, with edible and medicinal properties, that is currently blooming in Pelion.

  Cool Destination

Visit Mourtias, one of Pelion's most picturesque beaches on the Aegean coast.

  Exciting Site

Tour the Volos Archaeological Museum, a pretty century-old building, whose exhibits span a historical period of over 10 millennia!

  Month's Wallpaper

Download a fantastic picture of a rickety jetty in Lefokastron, Pelion, taken by Huw Jones.

Loading image. Please wait Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) :: Horton :: 2001/07/07 :: © A.Papadopoulos Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) :: Horton :: 2001/07/07 :: © A.Papadopoulos No image! No image! No image!

Common Fleabane

Pulicaria dysenterica

This is plant is a softly-hairy,  stoloniferous  perennial, with erect stems, which are branched above. Basal leaves are oblong, narrowed at the base, withered by flowering time; stem leaves are arrow- or heart-shaped, clasping the stem with unstalked bases. All leaves are green above, softly gray beneath. Flower heads are daisy-like, golden yellow, between 15 and 30 mm (3/5 – 1 1/5 in), with numerous linear rays.

According to "Plants for a Future", the bruised leaves of the Common Fleabane, have a soap-like smell. They are  astringent and can be used in the treatment of  dysentery. The root is also astringent and used in the treatment of dysentery. A paste of the plant is applied externally to wounds. The same source states that the plant can also be burned to repel parasites.

"Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases" concur that the plant is astringent and that it is used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea. They also agree that the Common Fleabane is an insect repellent. Additionally, they maintain that the plant is  diuretic and  tonic.

As mentioned above, the plant was used, at one time or other, as a flea repellent. So, if your home is infested with fleas, all you have to do is fumigate it, following the simple instructions detailed hereunder:

1. Collect as many leaves as you can; depending on your house's size, you may need several truckloads.
2. Clear the room of people and pets; remember it's the fleas you're after.
3. Burn leaves over smoldering coals, letting the fumes completely fill the room; be careful not to burn your house down, although this may be the surest way to get rid of fleas.
4. Keep the room sealed for several hours or overnight; this may be a little expensive, especially if you have a large family, as you might have to rent a hotel room.
5. Don't forget to air the house prior to reentering; you don't want to join the fleas.

If you do decide to try it, please give me a call and tell me how it went. If it doesn't work, consider spending some money on a pesticide; they're sold at your local convenience store...

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Fact Sheet

Type of plant
Softly-hairy, stoloniferous perennial.

Flowering Season
August - November.

Known Hazards
None known.

Known Uses
It is astringent, diuretic and tonic, used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea. "Plants for a Future" rate it 0 out of 5 for edibility and 1 out of 5 for medicinal uses (min. 0, max. 5).

Habitat
Damp habitats, marshes, stream margins, irrigation ditches, roadsides.

Distribution
Throughout the Mediterranean region.

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Taxonomy


Kingdom: Plantae (Plants); Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants); Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants); Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants); Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons); Subclass: Asteridae; Order: Asterales; Family: Compositae or Asteraceae (Daisy or Sunflower family); Genus: Pulicaria; Species: dysenterica

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Acknowledgments

The following sources have been used in preparing this page:

• BLAMEY, M., GREY-WILSON, C. 1993. Collins Guide to the Mediterranean Wild Flowers. Domino Books, Jersey. (See detailed review)
• "Plants for a Future"
• "Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases"

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