Asteraceae FAMILY Least Concern

Arnica montana

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

The whole plant is toxic and should only be used for external applications to unbroken skin[ 9 Title Edible and Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Launert. E. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2 Description Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information. , 14 Title Complete Guide to Herbs. Publication Author Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Publisher Rodale Press Year 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7 Description A good herbal. , 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. , 172 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ].

Botanical Description

Arnica montana is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing 30 - 60cm tall The plant produces one or more flowering stems, spreading at the roots to form a clump of growth. Arnica has a long history of herbal use, especially as an external treatment for bruises and sprains. It is commonly harvested from the wild and is also often cultivated to supply material for the herbal maket and also for use as a flavouring. Arnica montana is a widespread European endemic and is found at hundreds of localities. The populations are stable in some countries and declining in other parts of its range. The reasons for this decline are partly due to collection of the plant for medicinal purposes and partly due to habitat loss. This plant is found mainly in acidic and nutrient poor grasslands and shrublands, a habitat that changes among others due to abandonment of grazing activities or fertilisation to use the land for agriculture. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Norway, south to Portugal and east to Ukraine.

HabitatMontane to alpine meadows and pastures and in light forests to the alpine zone, growing especially on granite or siliceous soils; at elevations up to 2,500 metres. Pasture and open woodland, usually on poorer acid soils[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].