Accession Data

Dictamnus albus var. purpureus

Common Name: Gas Plant

Family: Rutaceae

Country of Origin: Europe to Temperate Asia

Description: A curious plant that can produce highly flammable isoprene on its foliage which, in still conditions, can actually ignite into flame. These flames are very quick burning and cause no damage to the plant. Their ecological role is unclear, some have suggested that this ignition could trigger brush fires that may serve to reduce competition, but this has apparently not been investigated. Regardless, its a pretty unique plant. Take a look:

Accession Data

Accession #: 201900260

Accession Date: 2019-06-28 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 6001

Quantity: 5

Source: Strictly Medicinal Seeds, LLC - 2019

Provenance:

Rcvd as Dictamnus purpureus (seed)

Culture: 90 days cool moist, then warm for germination. Step up in pots gradually for 1 year before planting out.

Found on calcareous soils, may benefit from periodic lime application.

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: eurosid II

Order: Sapindales

Family: Rutaceae

SubFamily: Toddalioideae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022

References

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Friday, 28 June, 2019.
  2. ARS-GRIN Taxonomy. Last accessed on Friday, 28 June, 2019.
  3. In Defense of Plants. Last accessed on Friday, 28 June, 2019.
  4. Plants for a Future. Last accessed on Friday, 28 June, 2019.

Images

Dictamnus albus var. purpureus