Herb: Timothy


Latin name: Phleum pratense


Family: Gramineae (Grass Family)



Medicinal use of Timothy:

Stored sterile timothy extracts arrested the growth of Sarcoma 45 and other tumour types.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
100 cm
(3 1/4 foot)

Flowering:
July

Habitat of the herb:

Common in meadows throughout Britain, though rare in the north.

Other uses of Timothy:

The stems have been used to make hair brushes. The plant can yield up to 15 tonnes of plant material per hectare and is a potential source of biomass.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow spring in situ, only just covering the seed. If seed is in short supply, it can be surface sown in a pot in a cold frame. Ensure the pot does not dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant out in the summer. Division in spring.

Cultivation of Timothy:

Common in meadows throughout Britain, though rare in the north.

Known hazards of Phleum pratense:

Two allergens producing strong skin reactions and a haemaglutinating action have been isolated from timothy pollen. The pollen contains several flavonol-glycosides, among them dactylin (isorhamnetin-31,4-diglucoside).

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.