Lycopus lucidus
| Lycopus lucidus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Lycopus lucidus (common name: bugleweed)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring or autumn[1]. 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: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Succeeds in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[2].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat: Wet places by the edges of streams or in other damp areas[3][4].
Edibility: Root - cooked[5][6]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[7][8].
Medicinal: The plant is cardiotonic, weakly diuretic and hepatic[4][9][10]. It is said to stimulate the blood circulation, break up clots, and soothe the liver[4][9][10]. A decoction is used in the treatment of abdominal distension, abscesses, menstrual pain, painful injuries, incontinence and various other ailments[11][1][10]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use.
Pollinators: Bees, flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Late Fall
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.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.