Lithospermum erythrorhizon
| Lithospermum erythrorhizon | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Propagation: Seed - sow spring or autumn 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 their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings.
Division in the autumn[1].
Cultivation: Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained soil[2][3]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil and also succeeds in partial shade[1].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[1].
This species is cultivated in Japan[4] (as a dye plant?).
Range: E. Asia - Eastern China, Japan and Korea.
Habitat: Grassy slopes in mountains and hills all over Japan[5].
Medicinal: All parts of the plant are antitumor, cardiotonic, contraceptive, depurative and febrifuge[6][7][8][9][1]. It is used internally in the treatment of irritant skin conditions, measles, chicken pox, boils, carbuncles, hepatitis and skin cancer[1]. Externally it is used to treat nappy rash, burns, cuts, wounds, abscesses, eczema and haemorrhoids[6][7][8][9][1]. The plant is an ingredient of commercial skin care creams[1]. The plants are harvested when in flower, the roots in the autumn[1]. They are dried for later use[1].
Usage: A purple dye is obtained from the root[4][10][9]. It is harvested in the spring[11]. It is much liked but the colour is fugitive and production costs high[7].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kariyone, Tatsuo. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.