Phellodendron amurense
| Phellodendron amurense | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 39' |
| Width: | 49' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Phellodendron amurense (common name: amur cork tree)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification, sow in late winter in a cold frame[2][3]. Germination is usually good. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in autumn and over winter in a cold frame. Fair to good percentage[2].
Root cuttings - obtain in December and store in leafmold in a warm place for 3 weeks. Cut into 4cm lengths and plant horizontally in pots. Grow on in a warm greenhouse. Good percentage[2].
Cultivation: Prefers a moisture retentive well-drained deep rich loam in full sun[4][1]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil[5]. Succeeds in shallow chalky soils[6]. Grows best in areas with long hot summers[1]. Plants are gross feeders and require a rich soil if they are to perform well[4].
Dormant plants are fully hardy in Britain[7], but the young growth is liable to damage from late spring frosts[4][7][1].
The leaves are aromatic[7].
This species is occasionally cultivated for timber in S.E. Europe[8].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: E. Asia - N. China and Manchuria.
Habitat: Forests in valleys and on mountains[9].
Edibility: Fruit[10][11]. The fruit is about 1cm in diameter and has a strong scent of turpentine[1].
Medicinal: Amur cork tree, called Huang Bai in China, is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs, but one that should be used with care[12][13]. A strongly bitter remedy, the bark acts strongly on the kidneys and is regarded as a detoxicant for hot damp conditions[5]. Recent research has shown that the plant is useful in the treatment of meningitis and conjunctivitis[13]. Huang Bai should only be used under professional supervision and should not be take during pregnancy[13].
The bark is alterative, antibacterial, antirheumatic, aphrodisiac, bitter stomachic, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, ophthalmic, skin, vasodilator and tonic[14][15][16][17][18][12][5][19]. It is taken internally in the treatment of acute diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice, vaginal infections including Trichomonas, acute urinary tract infections, enteritis, boils, abscesses, night sweats and skin diseases[5][13]. It is commonly used in conjunction with Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis chinensis in a preparation called 'injection of three yellow herbs'[5]. It is given intramuscularly for upper respiratory tract infections[5]. The bark of 10 year old trees is harvested in the winter or spring and dried for later use[5][13].
The fruit is expectorant[12].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark[18].
An oil obtained from the seed has insecticidal properties similar to pyrethrum[20].
Wood - heavy, hard, strong, close grained. Used for furniture[9].
The bark is a cork substitute[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Dioecious
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 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Kariyone, Tatsuo. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.