Opopanax chironium | |
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Plant of Opopanax chironium | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Apiales |
Family: | Apiaceae |
Genus: | Opopanax |
Species: | O. chironium
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Binomial name | |
Opopanax chironium | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Opopanax chironium, common name Hercules' all-heal, [2] is a herb of the family Apiaceae.
Opopanax chironium grows 1–3 metres (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) high. [4] This perennial herb has a branching stem, thick and rough close to the base. Leaves are serrate, pinnate, with long petioles. It produces a large, flat, yellow inflorescence at the top of the branches. [5] [6]
A gum resin (mostly gum) known as opopanax can be extracted from this plant by cutting at the base of a stem and sun-drying the juice that flows out. It has a strong unpleasant odor, unlike the perfumery's opopanax which is aromatic. [4]
The resin has been used in the treatment of spasms, [5] and, before that, as an emmenagogue, in the treatment of asthma, chronic visceral infections, hysteria and hypochondria. [4] Opopanax resin is most frequently sold in dried irregular pieces, though tear-shaped gems are not uncommon. [5]
The plant thrives in warm climates like Iran, Italy, Greece and Turkey, but also grows in cooler climates. [2] [5] Some view opopanax grown in cooler climates as being of inferior quality.