Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
There are a number of plants, either native of Britain or able to be
grown here, that can be used to provide an alternative form of
lighting. Some of these plants yield a wax or an oil that can be formed
directly into candles, some yield an oil that can be burnt, and others
can be used as wicks. Below is a brief guide to these plants.
Wax-bearing plants:
These plants have a quantity of wax deposited upon their fruits, leaves
and catkins. The wax is obtained by boiling the plant (usually only the
fruit, which tends to have the greatest quantity of wax), allowing the
liquid to cool and then removing the wax as it solidifies. The wax can
then be re-heated and formed into candles. The remaining liquid can be
used as a blue dye. All the plants listed are said to succeed in any
soil, though they would probably be happier if it was a little bit
acid, and for the best fruit production they should be in a fairly
sunny position. The soil should be free-draining and they would
appreciate watering during dry spells. The American species are quite
often cultivated specifically for their wax, which burns well and is
aromatic. The fruit is also edible, often being used as a flavouring in
cooking.
Myrica californica - Californian Bayberry: A hardy, evergreen shrub,
native of California and growing to about 14 feet. In a severe winter
(like 1985-86) it may be cut down to the ground, but it should grow
away again from the base.
Myrica cerifera - Wax Myrtle: A hardy, deciduous (occasionally
evergreen) tree, native of eastern North America and growing to about
40 feet.
Myrica pennsylvanica: Very similar to M. cerifera but with a more
northerly distribution which should make it more hardy. It is said to
be naturalised in the New Forest.
Myrica gale - Sweet Gale: A hardy, deciduous shrub, native of Britain,
growing to about four feet. It is found wild in bogs and marshes and is
dioecious (male and female flowers are on separate plants).
Unfortunately this species does not produce the same quantity of wax as
its American relatives, and, with this species, it is often the leaves
and catkins which are boiled to obtain the wax.
Plants yielding an oil that solidifies:
The oil, extracted from the fruits and seeds, assumes the consistency
of tallow if allowed to stand, so can be formed into candles. All the
following plants will succeed in an ordinary garden soil, even if it is
on the poor side. Candles made with this oil are said to burn very
brightly but with a pungent smoke. Perhaps best used outside.
Rhus glabra - Smooth Sumach: A hardy, deciduous shrub, native of North
America, growing to about six feet. Dioecious, so both male and female
plants must be grown (one male should fertilize about six females).
The fruit is edible.
Rhus succedanea - Wax Tree: A deciduous tree, native of China and
Japan, growing to about 30 feet. It is only hardy in the milder areas
of Britain.
Rhus verniciflua - Lacquer Tree: A hardy, deciduous tree, native of
China and Japan, growing to about 30 feet. Partly dioecious. This
plant is very poisonous.
Oil-yielding plants:
Many plants produce seeds that are rich in oil, and this oil can be
extracted under pressure. The following list, by no means exhaustive,
indicates some of the plants that can be grown in Britain and yield an
oil suitable for burning.
Brassica napus - Rape: Hardy annual, native of the Mediterranean,
growing to about four feet. Widely cultivated in Britain for its seed
(the all too familiar yellow fields of spring!). It succeeds in most
soils. Seeds often used as the 'mustard' in mustard and cress.
Cannabis sativa - Hemp: Hardy annual, native of India and Iran, growing
to about eight feet. It grows in any soil, but, because of some of its
other properties, can only be grown under licence.
Carthamnus tinctoria - Safflower: Hardy annual, native of Egypt,
growing to about three feet. Does very well in a poor, dry soil in a
sunny position. Flower petals are a substitute for saffron.
Cornus sanguinea - Dogwood: Hardy deciduous shrub, native of Britain,
growing to about 10 feet. Found wild in mixed woodland, scrub and
hedgerows, preferring a calcareous soil. Can be grown as a hedge.
Fagus sylvatica - Beech: Hardy, deciduous tree, native of Britain,
growing to about 100 feet. Prefers a chalky soil and dislikes heavy,
wet soils. It makes a superb hedge but would not then produce any
seed. The seeds and young leaves are edible.
Glaucium flavum - Horned Poppy: Hardy perennial, native of Britain,
growing to about two feet. Found wild on shingle banks by the coast, it
will succeed in any good garden soil. Said to burn very cleanly.
Guizottia abyssinica - Ramtil: Hardy annual, native of tropical Africa,
growing to about six feet. It requires a rich soil and is occasionally
found wild as a non-persisting casual in Britain.
Helianthus anuus - Sunflower: Hardy annual, native of western North
America, growing to about 100 feet. It prefers a fairly rich soil and
a sunny position. Seeds are edible (and very nutritious).
Lallemantia iberica: Hardy annual or biennial, native of Asia, growing
to about one and a half feet.
Sinapis alba - White Mustard: Hardy annual, native of Britain, growing
to about one foot. Found wild on sandy and calcareous soils, it is
often cultivated. Seed sometimes used in mustard and cress.
The oil obtained from these plants can be burnt in an ordinary
oil-burning lamp (I doubt if it would work in a pressure lamp such as
the 'Tilley').
Wicks
Wicks for candles and lamps can be made from the following plants, both
natives of Britain:
Eriophorum angustifolium (Syn. E. polystachion) - Cotton Grass: A hardy
perennial growing about two feet tall in peat bogs, acid meadows and
marshes.
Verbascum thapsus - Aaron's Rod: A hardy biennial growing in sunny
positions in cultivated fields and waste ground. It is also often grown
in the flower garden.
An alternative to using lamps or candles would be to slightly adapt a
method of using various species of rush to provide lighting. Any
species of rush that has a continuous pith can be used, though the
species most favoured in the past was Juncus effusus, the Soft Rush, a
hardy perennial native of Britain, growing up to five feet tall in wet
pastures, bogs, damp woods etc. A very good description of the process
is given in Richard Mabey's book 'Plants with a Purpose'. The method,
in brief, is as follows: Harvest the stems in autumn whilst still
green. Trim off both ends and then remove the outer skin. This is said
to be an acquired skill. Leave a strip of skin about a third of an inch
wide to act as a spinal support, then soak the stem in warm oil or
molten wax for about 30 seconds. Drain and then leave to cool and set.
They can be used indoors or out, give a good light, and do not drip
like candles.
Database
The database has more details on these plants:
Brassica napus, Cannabis sativa, Cornus sanguinea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Fagus sylvatica, Glaucium flavum, Juncus effusus, Lallemantia iberica, Myrica californica, Myrica cerifera, Myrica gale, Rhus glabra, Rhus succedanea, Rhus verniciflua, Sinapis alba, Verbascum thapsus.
Readers Comments
Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments,
use at your own risk. In particular
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants.
You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Tim Thwaites
Fri Dec 29 00:00:51 2000 I am interested in how the extraction process is with these plants. If you guys don't mind, please e-mail me. www.thwaites@liberty.com Thankyou Tim Thwaites
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Stephen Parchment
Thu Mar 1 19:18:14 2001 I am currently investigating the outcome of the extraction method known as Supercritical Fluid extraction. This technology as you must know is quite expensive. i am currently using a loboratory scale system which only holds samples of 10ml. I am concerned to furthur invest into a much larger scale machine do to economic feasibility. My main concern is how to determine what essential oil volume may be extracted from the plant substrait. If there is any botanical reference or method of dertemining the extract yield which could be obtainable from the plant matter, would you kindly point me in the right direction.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Sanjay
Tue Jan 1 02:30:10 2002 Thanks for this information about light because this is my science fair topic
on plants that How do plants react to different kinds of music, different light, colors, and different neighbor. This helped me a lot! Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
The Rt. Honourable Gbemi Saraki-Fowora
Tue Apr 30 01:33:12 2002
I stumbled on your web site and I am so glad that I did. So many times over the last three years, I have been searching for ways in which to help the poor people that I represent in Northern Nigeria.
Now, I have been educated about alternative uses of plants as well as been educated on alternative sources of income for the people and ways to enrich their lives. People in the Western world take everything for granted: electricity is a luxury back home. Our lands are so fertile and we are being forced to go all mechanical that the people simply cannot afford. I hope that I can solicit your help in bringing all this to life in their lives. We have land for you to experiment on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Dr.Vidya Swamy
Mon Jul 14 06:46:51 2003
SuTRA, Sustainable Transformation of Rural Areas, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, has been working with a non-edible oil from the seeds of a tree called Honge (Pongamia pinnata) Karanj in Hindi. The experience has been that this oil is a good substitute for diesel. There are many such similar trees and shrubs available in India, whose seed-oils can become potential biofuels. Scientific screening of the various oils, in terms of performance as well as yield, has not been systematically documented and it is now essential to do so and produce a technically sound database. This is possible if the experiences of various people in this field are aggregated and documented in a scientific and systematic manner.Recently SuTRA, jointly with the Samagra Vikas Trust (SVT), a Bangalore - based NGO, organized a seminar for production of a policy document for biofuels, which is being readied for presentation to the Government in a about a months time. This seminar discussed some of the issues involved but from another point of view, specifically for evolving a national policy for biofuels.Objectives of this workshop will be
To identify scientific experts who are working in this field.
To call for scientific notes and observations, covering all aspects of production of seeds for biofuel, from such identified experts.
To review / screen and consolidate the papers into a technical document for wide circulation throughout the country.
To invite the experts who have contributed papers for a discussion meeting to revise the draft.
To officially release the document at a meeting at Bangalore during september 2003.
intresetd people can contact us on boifuels@mecheng.iisc.ernet.in or visit http://agni.csa.iisc.ernet.in/sutra or http://mecheng.iisc.ernet.in/~sutra
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
abdollah hasanzadeh
Thu Nov 20 06:05:54 2003
dear sir or madam
I am researcher in IRAN AND WANTS WORK linum spp and lallemantum spp plants
This plants cultivated some parts of azarbaijan state or growing wild
please guide me about cultivation , clasificatiov and evaluation of this plants Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
abdollah hasanzadeh
Thu Nov 20 06:05:54 2003
Dr. Abdollah hasanzadeh in IRAN HE IS WORKING COLLECTION , CLASIFICATION AND EVALUATION OS linum spp and lallemantum spp plants
This plants cultivated some parts of Aazarbaijan lorestan Ardabil AND ZANZAN.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Dan Culbertson
Fri Oct 7 2005 You might add Sapium sebiferum (Chineses Tallow Tree) to the list. It grows like a weed in Florida USA (it is considered an invasive species here). I understand that you boil the plentiful seeds to extract the waxy coat which floats to the top of the boiling water and use it as a candle wax. The remaining seed is then pressed for the inedible oil which is used in either lamps or as a furniture polish.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Mary Craig
Mon Oct 24 2005
The rush you quote for Britain for rush lighting is wrong.
It is not juncus effusus but Scirpus Lacustris that is best used.
The much thicker stems, over 1cm in diameter soak up the oil/fat
and burn very well with a constant bright light.
Traditonally the rushes were sold in cut bolts about 2 foot long for
this purpose.
The confusion comes about because this rush *is* soft to handle and
is frequently referred to as soft rush, especially among basketmakers,
while the other is known as field rush.
The stems from Reedmace, confusing called Bullrushes, can also be
used, though the unripe heads act as a better wick.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
JANET PHYTHIAN
Wed Dec 28 2005 THIS IS A GREAT SITE. DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT ANY TREES/PLANTS
IN MOZAMBIQUE THAT PRODUCE A WAX OR OIL THAT CAN BE USED TO
MAKE CANDLES?
JANET PHYTHIAN: info@africanaturally.com Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
The Bob Tree Genius
Thu Jan 19 2006 well there is tree called bob that grows in mozambique which produces an amazing wax for candles you have to chop the tree into one thousand tiny pieces to get the wax out ! good luck you better share your wax with me when you get it ! bye Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Galyna
Tue Jun 20 2006 Don't forget about the olive tree! The oil burns perfectly in easy-to-make lamps with a wonderfully stable flame. If you can't grow olives in your region you can cheaply get the lesser grade olive oils, which actually burn better.
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
grace
Tue Jun 27 2006 what are the other wax-bearing plants that can be found in the philippines?
Alternative Lighting: Plant Oils and Waxes
Jane Brookes
Wed Oct 15 2008 I believe that this is all an extremely good notion that we could utilise
but it is also one that could potentially be overused. If we were to take
too many plant for our own usage, the eco-system would be even more
damaged than it is now.
Add a comment/link:
Discussion Monitor
To have posts to this page mailed to you enter your email address here:
(Your email address will not appear on the webpage or be passed on to third parties).
|
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License. You
can copy, distribute, display this works and to make derivative works but: Attribution is required, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft)
i.e. has an identical license. We also ask that you let us know (webmaster@pfaf.org) if
you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.
