Taxon:  Alkanna tinctoria Tausch



Summary
Genus:
Alkanna
Family:
Boraginaceae
Subfamily:
Boraginoideae
Tribe:
Lithospermeae
Nomen number:
105290
Place of publication:
Flora 7:234.  1824
Comment:
the nomenclatural situation outlined in Taxon 45:567. 1996 (also Taxon 48:84. 1999) somewhat parallels that of this name, which is now the basis for Shenzhen ICN Art. 11, Note 2, Ex. 18
Verified:
11/01/2000 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
1 (1  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Anchusa tuberculata Forssk.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
Alkanna matthioli Tausch
Alkanna tuberculata (Forssk.) Meikle
Anchusa bracteolata Viv.
Lithospermum lehmanii Tineo

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Ahmad, M. et al. 2021. Spatial and ecological drivers of genetic structure in Greek populations of Alkanna tinctoria (Boraginaceae), a polyploid medicinal herb. Front. Plant Sci. 12:706574. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.706574.
  2. Ali, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.
  3. Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
  4. Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice on a scientific basis CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Note: translation of German edition by M. Wichtl, ed.
  5. Boulos, L. 1995. Flora of Egypt checklist. Note: = Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
  6. Cannon, J. & M. Cannon. 1994. Dye plants and dyeing The Herbert Press & The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  7. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
  8. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  9. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1190.
  10. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  11. Fennane, M. et al., eds. 1999-. Flore pratique du Maroc.
  12. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  13. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  14. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 2000. International code of botanical nomenclature (Saint Louis Code) Art. 11, Note 1, Ex. 14.
  15. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6 Note: = Alkanna tuberculata (Forssk.) Meikle
  16. Hepper, F. N. & I. Friis. 1994. The plants of Pehr Forsskal's Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica. Note: = Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
  17. Johnston, I. M. 1953. Studies in the Boraginaceae, XXV. A revaluation of some genera of the Lithospermeae. J. Arnold Arbor. 34:281.
  18. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  19. Meikle, R. D. 1977-1985. Flora of Cyprus. Note: = Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
  20. Meikle, R. D. 1980. Alkanna tinctoria: a nomenclatural tangle. Kew Bull. 34:823. Note: = Alkanna tuberculata (Forssk.) Meikle
  21. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  22. Pignatti, S. 1982. Flora d'Italia. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
  23. Quézel, P. & S. Santa. 1962-1963. Nouvelle flore de l'Algerie.
  24. Rehman, F.-u. et al. 2022. Environmental friendly bio-dyeing of silk using Alkanna tinctoria based alkannin natural dye. Industr. Crops Prod. 15:115301. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115301.
  25. Täckholm, V. 1974. Students' flora of Egypt, ed. 2.
  26. Terrell, E. E. et al. 1986. Agricultural Handbook no. 505
  27. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
  28. Valdés, B. 2011. Notas sobre Boraginaceae. Lagascalia 31:54-56.
  29. Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
  30. 1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishalkanet  11961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
Englishalkanna  1Terrell, E. E. et al. 1986. Agricultural Handbook no. 505
Englishdyer's-alkanet  1Cannon, J. & M. Cannon. 1994. Dye plants and dyeing The Herbert Press & The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Englishdyer's-bugloss  1Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
EnglishSpanish-bugloss  1Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
Frenchorcanette  2Fennane, M. et al., eds. 1999-. Flore pratique du Maroc.
Frenchracines d'alkanna  2Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
GermanAlkannawurzel  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6 Note: as Alkanna tuberculata
GermanSchminkwurz  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1190.
Italianalkanetta  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6 Note: as Alkanna tuberculata
Spanishonoquiles  2Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
Spanishorcaneta  2Valdés, B. 2011. Notas sobre Boraginaceae. Lagascalia 31:54-56.
Transliterated Russianalkanna krasilnaya  2Bennett, M. 2003. Pulmonarias and the Borage family 190.
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria n.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt n.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya n.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaCyprus  Meikle, R. D. 1977-1985. Flora of Cyprus. Note: = Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIsrael  Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaJordan  Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaSyria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey w.Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSlovakia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece incl. CreteGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSerbia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
2CultivatedAfrica Africa n.Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2CultivatedEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria (n.), Egypt (n.), Libya (n.), Morocco, Tunisia
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (w.)
Europe
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Hungary, Slovakia
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Serbia
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France
Cultivated
Africa
  • REGION: Africa (n.)
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Turkey
Europe
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Hungary

Reference(s)
  1. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
  2. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  3. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  4. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  5. Meikle, R. D. 1977-1985. Flora of Cyprus. Note: = Alkanna lehmanii (Tineo) A. DC.
  6. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: lists as Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch
  7. Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Materialstannin/dyestuffsource of various naphthoquinone pigmentsRehman, F.-u. et al. 2022. Environmental friendly bio-dyeing of silk using Alkanna tinctoria based alkannin natural dye. Industr. Crops Prod. 15:115301. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115301.
Medicinesfolklore Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice on a scientific basis CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Note: translation of German edition by M. Wichtl, ed.
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinessource of pharmaceutical agent potential, source of shikonin/alkaninAhmad, M. et al. 2021. Spatial and ecological drivers of genetic structure in Greek populations of Alkanna tinctoria (Boraginaceae), a polyploid medicinal herb. Front. Plant Sci. 12:706574. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.706574.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=105290. Accessed 12 May 2026.