Abstract
The genus Alkanna (family Boraginaceae) consists of 25 species widely distributed in the Mediterranean regions and Asia. The species Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Taush (2n = 30) also has a wide geographical distribution; in particular, it grows wild in arid maritime areas of southern Europe. The plants are perennial herbs with prostrate bushy stems, blooming between March and May with small (6–7 mm) blue flowers (Fig. 1). The propagation of the plant occurs naturally from seeds that are included in monospermic achenes. The percentage of seed germination is very low, which is true also for other Boraginaceae species (Qi et al. 1993). Alkanna tinctoria has been known since ancient times for the presence in its root of the red pigment alkannin, used since antiquity for its therapeutical properties and as a natural dye.
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References
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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Gerardi, C., Mita, G., Grillo, E., Giovinazzo, G., Miceli, A., De Leo, P. (1998). Alkanna tinctoria T. (Alkanets): In Vitro Culture and the Production of Alkannin and Other Secondary Metabolites. In: Bajaj, Y.P.S. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants X. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, vol 41. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58833-4_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-58833-4_2
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