Aristolochia debilis
| Aristolochia debilis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Aristolochia debilis (common name: ma dou ling)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Pre-soak stored seed for 48 hours in hand-hot water and surface sow in a greenhouse[1]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 20°c[1]. Stored seed germinates better if it is given 3 months cold stratification at 5°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Division in autumn[2].
Root cuttings in winter[2].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained loamy soil, rich in organic matter, in sun or semi-shade[1][2]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[3].
Most species in this genus have malodorous flowers that are pollinated by flies[2].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan
Habitat: Roadside thickets and meadows in lowland, C. and S. Japan and in China[4][5].
Edibility: Leaves - cooked[6][7]. It is said that the leaves of this species are not poisonous[7] but caution is advised.
Medicinal: Alterative, antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic[8]. Stimulates energy circulation[9].
The fruit and its capsule are antiasthmatic, antiseptic, antitussive and expectorant[10][11]. It is used internally in the treatment of asthma and various other chest complaints, haemorrhoids and hypertension[3].
The root is anodyne and anti-inflammatory[3]. It is used internally in the treatment of snakebite, gastric disorders involving bloating, and is clinically effective against hypertension[11]. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[3].
The whole plant is antitussive, carminative, stimulant and tonic[11].
The root contains aristolochic acid. This has anti-cancer properties and can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiotherapy[10]. Aristolochic acid can also be used in the treatment of acute and serious infections such as TB, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and infantile pneumonia[10]. It also increases the cellular immunity and phagocytosis function of the phagocytic cells[10]. Aristolochic acid is said to be too toxic for clinical use[11].
Pollinators: Flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: We have no specific details for this species but most members of this genus have poisonous roots and stems[7].
The plant contains aristolochic acid, this has received rather mixed reports on its toxicity. According to one report aristolochic acid stim
Also Known As: A. recurvilabra. Hance.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.