Caulophyllum thalictroides

From Permawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Light:Part Shade Full Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:7
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:2'
Width:3'
Blooms:Mid Spring
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Caulophyllum thalictroides (common name: papoose root)

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady part of a cold frame[1]. If stored seed is used, it should be sown as soon as it is received. Germination can be erratic. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a shady part of a greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions during autumn or early winter.

Division in spring or just after flowering[1]. Plants are slow to increase[2].

Cultivation: Easily grown in a damp light humus-rich woodland soil preferring a position in deep shade[3][1]. One report says that it is best in a peat garden.

Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[2].

The plant only produces one large leaf each year[4]. The seeds rupture the ovary before they are fully ripe and continue to expand naked, they are bright blue when fully ripe[5].

Range: Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to South Carolina, Arkansas, North Dakota and Manitoba.

Habitat: Rich moist soils in swamps, by streams[6][7] and in woods[8].

Edibility: The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[6][9][10][11]. The seeds are about the size of large peas, but are not produced in abundance[12].

Medicinal: Papoose root is a traditional herb of many North American Indian tribes and was used extensively by them to facilitate child birth[13]. Modern herbalists still consider it to be a woman's herb and it is commonly used to treat various gynaecological conditions[14]. An acrid, bitter, warming herb, it stimulates the uterus, reduces inflammation, expels intestinal worms and has diuretic effects[15].

The root is anthelmintic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, oxytocic and sedative[6][7][16][17][13]. An infusion of the root in warm water is taken for about 2 weeks before the expected birth date in order to ease the birth[13][18]. This infusion can also be used as an emmenagogue and a uterine stimulant[18]. Papoose root should therefore be used with some caution by women who are in an earlier stage of pregnancy since it can induce a miscarriage or early delivery[19]. The plant is also taken internally in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease, rheumatism and gout[15]. It should not be prescribed for people with hypertension and heart diseases[15]. The powdered root can have an irritant action on the mucous membranes, therefore any use of this plant is best under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[15][20].

The roots are normally harvested in the autumn, because they are at their richest at this time[18], and are dried for later use.

The root is harvested in early spring as new growth is beginning and is used to make a homeopathic remedy[12]. It is used especially in childbirth and in some forms of rheumatism[12].

Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.

Seed Ripens: Early Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: This plant should not be used during pregnancy prior to the commencement of labour[17].

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  3. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  5. ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society, 1982.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  8. ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  9. ↑ Kavasch, Barrie. Native Harvests. Vintage Books, 1979.
  10. ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  11. ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Castro, Miranda. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan, 1990.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
  14. ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  16. ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  19. ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  20. ↑ Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.


Retrieved from "https://old.permawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Caulophyllum_thalictroides&oldid=26721"