Clerodendrum trichotomum
| Clerodendrum trichotomum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 20' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Mid Fall |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Clerodendrum trichotomum (common name: chou wu tong)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as possible in a greenhouse. Germination can be erratic but usually takes place within 20 - 60 days at 20°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Root cuttings, 6 - 8cm long, December in a greenhouse. High percentage[2].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Very easy, they can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Cultivation: Succeeds in a sunny position in ordinary garden soil but prefers a fertile humus-rich well-drained loam[1][3]. The soil must not be allowed to dry out in the growing season[4]. Requires a position sheltered from cold drying winds[4][3].
Plants are generally hardy to about -15°c[5][3], they succeed outdoors at Kew though the branches are pithy and are apt to die back in winter[6]. The sub-species C. trichotomum fargesii. (Dode.)Rehder. is somewhat hardier, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[5].
Plants produce the occasional sucker[7].
The leaves have a heavy unpleasant odour when crushed[6][7].
Flowers are produced on the current seasons growth and are sweetly scented[3].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat: Thickets on mountain slopes, throughout most of China except Nei Mongol, below elevations of 2400 metres[8].
Edibility: Young sprouts and leaves - cooked[9][10].
Medicinal: The leaves are mildly analgesic, antipruritic, hypotensive and sedative[11][12][13]. They are used externally in the treatment of dermatitis and internally for the treatment of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, numbness and paralysis[11][12][13]. When used in a clinical trial of 171 people, the blood pressure of 81% of the people dropped significantly - this effect was reversed when the treatment was stopped[13]. The plant is normally used in conjunction with Bidens bipinnata[12].
When used with the herb Siegesbeckia pubescens it is anti-inflammatory[13].
The roots and leaves are antirheumatic and hypotensive[14]. A decoction is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension[14].
The pounded seed is used to kill lice[12].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.