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Teucrium chamaedrys

Teucrium chamaedrys, the wall germander, is a species of plant native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa, and the Middle East as far as Iran. It is used as an ornamental.

Subspecies

  1. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. albarracinii <small>(Pau) Rech.f.</small> - France, Spain
  2. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. algeriense <small>Rech.f.</small> - Algeria
  3. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys - central + southern Europe, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran
  4. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. germanicum <small>(F.Herm.) Rech.f.</small> - France, Germany
  5. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. gracile <small>(Batt.) Rech.f.</small> - Algeria, Morocco
  6. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. lydium <small>O.Schwarz</small> - Greece, Turkey
  7. Teucrium chamaedrys var. multinodum <small>Bordz.</small> - Caucasus
  8. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. nuchense <small>(K.Koch) Rech.f.</small> - Caucasus
  9. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. olympicum <small>Rech.f.</small> - Greece
  10. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pectinatum <small>Rech.f.</small> - France, Italy
  11. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum <small>(Sennen) Rech.f.</small> - France, Spain
  12. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. sinuatum <small>(Celak.) Rech.f.</small> - Iran, Iraq, Turkey
  13. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. syspirense <small>(K.Koch) Rech.f.</small> - Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan
  14. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. tauricola <small>Rech.f.</small> - Turkey, Syria
  15. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. trapezunticum <small>Rech.f.</small> - Caucasus, Turkey

Appearance

Wall germander is a creeping evergreen perennial 6–18 inches tall. Its scalloped, opposite leaves are 0.5–1.5 inches long, dark green, and shiny. In late summer, tubular flowers grow in whorls from the leaf axils.

Dietary supplements

Bans

Dietary supplements using germander are highly hepatotoxic (causing liver damage). Its sale was prohibited in France by the French Ministry of Health in April 1992. It causes acute hepatitis with an onset delay of 6 weeks to 6 months, and as of 1992 there has been at least one known case of fatal hepatic dysfunction (death from liver damage). As of 2017 its sale has been prohibited in the USA.

History

Prior to being identified as hepatotoxic, this herb was sold in European pharmacies and health specialty stores for a variety of uses, including the following:

  • slimming diet
  • treatment of mild diarrhea
  • topical analgesic for oral cavity infections

Cultivation

Wall germander can be grown in USDA Zones 5–10. It may be propagated by vegetative cuttings or by the division of established clumps.

Gallery

References

External links