Packera aurea
| Packera aurea | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Packera aurea (common name: golden groundsel)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. 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.
Division in spring[1].
Root cuttings in early spring[1].
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in a sunny position in most moderately fertile well-drained soils[1]. Prefers a damp to wet soil and also succeeds in partial shade[2].
Succeeds in the wild garden though it is invasive[1].
This species is cultivated in parts of Russia for use in the pharmaceutical industry[2].
A polymorphic species, there are many named varieties[3].
Range: Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Florida, west to Texas.
Habitat: Rich calcareous woods and bottoms and upland swamps[3]. Damp thickets and prairies[1].
Medicinal: Golden groundsel is a medicinal plant that is deserving of greater attention[4]. This species was widely used by N. American Indians to treat various complaints of the female reproductive system, and also to ease childbirth[2]. Whilst often stated to be completely safe to use, recent research has found that the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that, in isolation, can cause liver damage and so this remedy can no longer be recommended for internal use[2][5].
The roots and leaves are abortifacient, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, pectoral, stimulant and uterine tonic[4][6][7][8][9]. It is used externally in the treatment of vaginal discharge[2].
A tea made from the plant was frequently used by the N. American Indians as a remedy for various female troubles, including the pain of childbirth[8][10]. Pharmacologists have not reported any uterine effects, but the plant does contain an essential oil (inuline) plus the alkaloids senecine and senecionine (which are poisonous to grazing animals)[10].
The plant is harvested before flowering and the roots are harvested in the autumn, both are dried for later use[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Senecio aureus. L.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.