Dianthus superbus
| Dianthus superbus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dianthus superbus (common name: fringed pink)
Propagation: Seed - sow April/June in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the autumn.
Cultivation: Prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates slightly acid soils[1]. Succeeds in any well-drained peaty soil in sun or light shade[2]. Plants succeed when grown on the top of a broad or retaining wall[3].
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[2].
The flowers have a soft sweet perfume[4].
Range: Europe to N. Asia.
Habitat: Woody hills and dry meadows[5].
Edibility: The leaves, stems and tops are boiled, steeped in water and eaten as a potherb[6][7][8][9]. Young plants are also eaten[9]. One report says that they contain saponins but that the leaves are apparently not toxic[8]. Probably this is because the content of saponins is too low to be harmful[K].
Children suck the flowers for their sweet edible nectar[6][7][9].
Medicinal: The fringed pink, called Qu Mai in Chinese herbalism, has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2,000 years. The whole plant is a bitter tonic herb that stimulates the digestive and urinary system, and also the bowels[10]. It also lowers blood pressure, reduces fevers and controls bacterial infections[11][10]. Little used on its own, it is often taken with Dan Shen (Salvia multiorrhiza) to induce menstruation[12]. The closely related D. chinensis has the same uses as Qu Mai and is more commonly used[10].
The plant is abortifacient, contraceptive, diuretic, emmenagogue, ophthalmic, tonic and vulnerary[13][14][15][11]. It is said to promote hair growth[13][14][15]. It is ranked 9th in a list of 250 potential antifertility Chinese plants[11]. The plant is taken internally in the treatment of acute urinary tract infections (especially cystitis), urinary stones, constipation and failure to menstruate[10]. Externally, it is applied to skin inflammations and swellings[10].
The leaves are used in the treatment of haemorrhoids, lumbricoid worms, venereal sores etc[11].
The flowers are astringent, diuretic, haemostatic, resolvent and vulnerary[11]. Research has shown that the flowers are the most markedly diuretic part of the plant[12].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant contains saponins but apparently in quantities too low to cause harm[8]. Although fairly toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without harm. Saponins are found in many foods, such as beans. Saponins are
Also Known As: D. wimmeri.
Links
References
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.