Aristolochia tomentosa
| Aristolochia tomentosa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 33' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Aristolochia tomentosa (common name: dutchman's pipe)
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[3][2], but succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1].
Plants are hardy to at least -10°c[2].
A fast-growing climbing plant, attaching itself by means of twining around other plants, it has been recommended for covering pergolas[2].
Most species in this genus have malodorous flowers that are pollinated by flies[2].
Range: South-eastern N. America - North Carolina too Florida, west to Texas, Kansas and Illinois.
Habitat: Moist woods[2] along rich river banks[4]. Thickets and wods, in sandy and silty soils[5].
Medicinal: This species has medicinal activity that is similar to but weaker than A. serpentaria[4]. - these activities are listed below[K].
The Virginia snakeroot is attracting increasing interest for its medicinal virtues and as a result is becoming uncommon in the wild. It merits consideration for cultivation in forest areas[4]. It is used in a number of proprietary medicines for treating skin, circulatory and kidney disorders[6]. The plant contains aristolochic acid which, whilst stimulating white blood cell activity and speeding the healing of wounds, is also carcinogenic and damaging to the kidneys[7]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[6].
The root is antidote, anti-inflammatory, bitter tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant[3][8][9][10][11][2]. Traditionally it was chewed in minute doses or used as a weak tea to promote sweating, stimulate the appetite and promote expectoration[9][4]. The native North Americans considered it to have analgesic properties and used an infusion internally to treat rheumatism, pain - but especially sharp pains in the breast, and as a wash for headaches[12]. This plant should be used with caution, it is irritating in large doses and can cause nausea, griping pains in the bowels etc[9][10][4]. It should only be used internally under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[6].
The bruised root is placed in hollow teeth for treating toothache[13].
An extract of the root can be drunk to relieve stomach pains[13].
The boiled root, or a decoction of the whole plant, can be used to treat fevers[14].
The chewed root or crushed leaves was applied to snakebites[13][14]. This species was the most popular snakebite remedy in N. America[14]. It has also been applied externally to slow-healing wounds and in the treatment of pleurisy[6].
Pollinators: Flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: We have no specific details for this species but most members of this genus have poisonous roots and stems[15].
The plant contains aristolochic acid, this has received rather mixed reports on its toxicity. According to one report aristolochic acid stim
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.