Cuscuta reflexa
| Cuscuta reflexa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cuscuta reflexa (common name: dodder)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, by lodging it among the stems of a host plant that is being grown in a pot in the greenhouse[1].
Cultivation: We have virtually no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. One report says that it needs cold greenhouse treatment in this country[2] but some provenances from the higher parts of its range could succeed outdoors.
This is a parasitic species that is devoid of leaves, roots or chlorophyll and so is totally dependant upon its host[1]. It must be grown next to the host plant, which it penetrates with suckers in order to obtain nutriment[1].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to China.
Habitat: Parasitic on Desmodium spp, Rubus spp and Viburnum spp at 1700 - 2900 metres in Kashmir[3]. It is also found on Zizyphus jujube and Vitex negundo and has been known to kill these plants[4].
Medicinal: The seeds are alterative, anthelmintic and carminative[5][6]. They are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[5].
The stems are used in the treatment of bilious disorders[6].
The whole plant is purgative[5][6]. It is used internally in treating protracted fevers and externally in the treatment of body pains and itchy skin[5][6][7]. The plant is employed in Ayurvedic medicine to treat difficulty in urinating, jaundice, muscle pain and coughs[8]. The juice of the plant, mixed with the juice of Saccharum officinarum, is used in the treatment of jaundice[7].
The analysis of the plant differs according to the host it is growing on[5]. The report does not say if this makes a difference to its medicinal properties[K].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Manandhar, N. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Himalaya. Department of Medicinal Plants, 1993.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.