Agrimonia pilosa
| Agrimonia pilosa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Agrimonia pilosa (common name: hairy agrimony)
Propagation: Seed - can be sown in spring or autumn, either in pots in a cold frame or in situ. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 13°c[1], though germination rates can be low, especially if the seed has been stored[2]. A period of cold stratification helps but is not essential. When grown in pots, prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in autumn[3]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils, preferring a calcareous soil[3]. Prefers a sunny position[3].
The ssp. A. pilosa japonica. (Miq.)Nakai. is used medicinally in China[4].
Range: E. Europe to E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat: Meadows and roadsides in lowland and mountains all over Japan[5]. Forest undergrowth and shady places by the sides of roads at elevations of 1000 - 3000 metres in Nepal[6].
Edibility: Young leaves - cooked[7].
Seed - dried and ground into a meal[8]. Mixed with noodles[7].
Medicinal: The stems and the leaves are analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, astringent, cardiotonic, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic, taenicide and vasoconstrictor[9][4][10][11]. The plant is used in the treatment of abdominal pain, sore throat, headaches, bloody and mucoid dysentery, bloody and white discharge and heat-stroke[9][6]. It is used in Korea to treat parasitic worms, bois and ezema[11].
The leaves are rich in vitamin K and are used to promote blood clotting and control bleeding[12].
The plant contains agrimonin, this is haemostatic, cardiotonic and lowers blood sugar, though it can also produce palpitations and congestion of the blood in the face[4].
The root ia astringent, diuretic and tonic[6]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, tuberculosis and diarrhoea[6]. The root juice is used in the treatment of peptic ulcer[6]. A paste of the root is used to treat stomach ache[6].
Plants are harvested as they come into flower and can be dried for later use[12].
Pollinators: Bees, flies, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. dahurica.
Links
References
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.