Dendranthema indicum
| Dendranthema indicum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dendranthema indicum (common name: chrysanthemum)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring to early summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[1]. It usually germinates in 10 - 18 days at 15°c but if it does not germinate within 4 weeks then try chilling the seed for 3 weeks in the salad compartment of a fridge[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most well-drained fertile soils in a sunny position[3][1].
Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c and should succeed outdoors in most parts of Britain[4].
This species is closely related to D. x grandiflorum (the cultivated chrysanthemum) according to one report[5] whilst another says that it is a parent of the cultivated chrysanthemum[3].
It has been proposed (1999) to restore this species to Chrysanthemum as C. indicum L. since the plant is so widely known under this name.
When bruised, the foliage has a pungent refreshing fragrance that is somewhat lemon-like and reminiscent of chamomile[6].
Range: E. Asia - Eastern China, Central and Southern Japan.
Habitat: Found wild in most habitats[7]. Grasslands on mountain slopes, thickets, wet places by rivers, fields, roadsides, saline places by seashores, under shrubs 100 - 2900 m. Nearly throughout China[8].
Edibility: The flower heads are pickled in vinegar[9][10][11][12].
Young leaves - cooked[13][11][12].
An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[12].
Seed[12]. No more details are given but it is very small and would be rather fiddly to use.
Medicinal: The whole plant is antiphlogistic, blood tonic, depurative, febrifuge and vulnerary[7][14][15].
The plant is used in China to treat eye ailments[16]. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[17].
The leaves are depurative[17]. They are used in China in the treatment of migraine[17].
The flowers are aperient, bitter, hypotensive, stomachic and vasodilator[18][17]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus, E. coli, streptococcus, C. diphtheriae, Bacillus dysenteriae[18]. The flowers are used in the treatment of furuncle, scrofula, deep-rooted boils, inflammation of the throat, eyes and cervix, eczema, itchiness of the skin and hypertension[18].
An essential oil obtained from the plant contains chrysanthenone, this is active on the brain centre affected by Parkinson's disease[17].
Usage: The seed contains about 16% of a semi-drying oil, but no information is given as to its uses[17]. The seed is rather small, commercial extraction is probably not viable[K].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Chrysanthemum indicum. L.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kariyone, Tatsuo. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.