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Advice on Publications Available.Echinacea angustifolia is a herbaceous perennial which is used as a medicinal herb worldwide for its immuno-stimulant properties. In the last five years, E. angustifolia has become extremely popular as an ingredient in natural cold and flu remedies.
E. angustifolia belongs to the Asteraceae (=Compositae) family which is well known for its weeds, with some particularly toxic ones. The plant is indigenous to North America and much of the material traded has come from wild-crafting (harvesting from the wild).
This plant has a particularly pronounced tap root and the active ingredients sought for use in herbal medicine are found in greatest concentration in the root. Dried roots of E. angustifolia are highly sought after by the Australian medicinal herb manufacturing industry, prices have ranged from $50 -100/kg of dried root material. Annual Australian consumption of dried E. angustifolia root is approximately 15,000kg. At present, only a small portion of this quantity is produced in Australia, the majority of material being imported from the United States, Canada and Germany.
A report by Mr Peter Horn, privately commissioned by The Ipswich Regional Development Authority for Herb Growers SE Queensland in 1995, nominated E. angustifolia in the top five medicinal herbs recommended for growing in the area. This assessment was on the basis of marketability and production suitability in south east Queensland. In terms of market value itself, E. angustifolia was ranked first.
The medicinal herb, Echinacea purpurea, is extensively cultivated in Australia and is considered by some as a poor substitute for E. angustifolia. In the eyes of many herbalists, homeopaths and naturopaths prescribing natural medicines, E. angustifolia has a higher concentration of active ingredients and would be preferable if it were available.
However, E. angustifolia is more difficult to establish and to grow than E. purpurea, hence the popularity of E. purpurea amongst growers of medi-cinal herbs. Commercial cultivation of E. angustifolia has been hampered by poor germination and poor establishment of seedlings. This has been due in part, to dormancy of some sources of E. angustifolia seed and slow growth rates in seedlings. Well documented technical information relevant to cultivation of this plant in Australia is very limited.
The author completed his honours thesis in 1996 on the development of a protocol for propagation of E. angustifolia and will continue to develop field cultivation methods for this crop as part of a Doctor of Philosophy degree over the next three years.
As part of these studies, a trial planting of three selections of E. angustifolia has been made in 1997 at Echo Valley, Toowoomba. The site was chosen for its suitable climate and light friable soil type which will facilitate harvest.
A phenological study of the species will be conducted, along with the determination of nutritional and cultural requirements for production of high yield and quality of E. angustifolia root material. The effect of fertiliser rate and type, weed control treatments, shelter belts, pest and disease control methods on yield and quality of harvested E. angustifolia root will be determined.
As with any emerging industry, an export focus must be maintained for the long term success of the Australian E. angustifolia industry. Growers need to share information so that 'the wheel is not reinvented' time and time again. Growers must also have a 'quality rather than quantity' outlook on medicinal herb production.
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF