Diphylleia cymosa
| Diphylleia cymosa | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Diphylleia cymosa (common name: umbrella leaf)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1]. The seed is very slow to germinate, usually taking a year or more[1]. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are 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 into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.
Cultivation: Prefers a moist humus-rich soil and semi-shade, growing well in a woodland garden[2][3][4].
The leaves are very large and can be up to 60cm across[5].
Range: Eastern N. America - Virginia to Georgia.
Habitat: Very rare in the wild, growing in rich woods in mountains[6], thriving by streams[4].
Medicinal: A tea made from the roots is antiseptic, diaphoretic and diuretic[6][7]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of smallpox[7].
This is a very rare plant in the wild, so little research has been carried out into its medicinal virtues. However, it is believed that the root might contain podophyllin, an effective anti-cancer agent[6].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bird, Alfred. Focus on Plants Volume 5. Thompson and Morgan, 1991.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society, 1982.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.