Podophyllum hexandrum

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Podophyllum hexandrum
Light:Part Shade Full Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:6
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:1'
Width:1'
Blooms:Late Spring-Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Podophyllum hexandrum (common name: himalayan may apple)

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in early spring. The seed germinates in 1 - 4 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least 2 growing seasons. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter when the plants are dormant.

Division in March/April[1].

Cultivation: Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade[1][2]. Grows well in a moist open woodland[3][4][5].

Hardy to about -20°c[2], it takes some years to become established[6] but is very long lived in a suitable habitat[7]. Young leaves may be damaged by late frosts but otherwise the plants are quite hardy[7].

Over collection of the plant from the wild is becomimg a cause for concern as local populations are being endangered[8].

Young plants only produce one leaf each year, older plants have 2 or 3 leaves each year[9].

Plants in this genus have excited quite a lot of interest for the compounds found in their roots which have been shown to have anti-cancer activity[6]. There are various research projects under way (as of 1990)[6].

The sub-species P. hexandrum chinense. Wall. has larger flowers and more deeply divided leaves[2].

Range: E. Asia - Afghanistan to China.

Habitat: Scrub forests and alpine meadows[2], usually in humus rich soils, 2000 - 3500 metres in the Himalayas[7][10]. Very abundant in fir forests in Kashmir[9].

Edibility: Fruit - raw. It must only be eaten when it is fully ripe[11][12][13][14]. Juicy but insipid[7]. The fruit is about 5cm long[5].

The leaves are edible according to one report but this must be treated with some caution, see notes on toxicity above[15].

Medicinal: The whole plant, but especially the root, is cholagogue, cytostatic and purgative. The plant contains podophyllin, which has an antimiotic effect (it interferes with cell division and can thus prevent the growth of cells). It is, therefore, a possible treatment for cancer, and has been used especially in the treatment of ovarian cancer[16][17][18][19][20][6][21]. However, alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment[21]. This species contains about twice the quantity of active ingredient than P. peltatum[9].

The roots contain several important anti-cancer lignans, including podophyllin and berberine[22]. The roots are also antirheumatic[22].

The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted[23]. This plant is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[23]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[23].

Usage: A medicinal resin is obtained from the plant. It is extracted with alcohol[19].

Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The leaves and the roots are poisonous[12]. Only the root is poisonous, it is more toxic than P. peltatum[24].

Also Known As: P. emodi.

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  3. ↑ Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
  4. ↑ Brown, George. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Royal Horticultural Society. The Garden Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society, 1988.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society, 1982.
  8. ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Coventry, B. Wild Flowers of Kashmir. Raithby, Lawrence and Co, 1923.
  10. ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
  11. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  13. ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  14. ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  15. ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  16. ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  17. ↑ Polunin, Oleg and Adam Stainton. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press, 1984.
  18. ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Howes, Frank. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Chronica Botanica, 1949.
  20. ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  24. ↑ Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.


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