Scutellaria lateriflora
| Scutellaria lateriflora | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Scutellaria lateriflora (common name: virginian skullcap)
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ outdoors in late spring.
If there is only a small quantity of seed it is better to sow it in a pot in a cold frame in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the spring.
Division in spring just before new growth begins. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Basal cuttings in early summer in a frame. Very easy. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation: Succeeds in a sunny position in any ordinary garden soil that does not dry out during the growing season[1]. Plants are not so long-lived when grown in rich soils[2].
Many of the plants grown under this name in gardens are in fact S. altissima[3]. It is important to ensure you have the correct plant if using it medicinally[3].
Range: N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to Florida and Ontario.
Habitat: Alluvial thickets, meadows and swampy woods[4].
Medicinal: A commonly used herbal medicine, Virginian skullcap is a very effective nervine that has traditionally been used in the treatment of a wide range of nervous conditions. Its tonic and restorative properties help to support and nourish the nervous system, calming and relieving stress and anxiety[5][3][6][7]. Very little research has been carried out on this species, despite its long use in American and British herbal medicine[6]. Research is sorely needed, and may reveal more uses for this valuable herb[7].
The leaves are antispasmodic, slightly astringent, diuretic, nervine, sedative and strongly tonic[2][8][9][10]. They are harvested in early summer and dried for later use[2]. It is used in the treatment of various problems of the nervous system including epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, delirium tremens, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquillisers, and neuralgia[5][3][6]. An infusion of the plant has been used to promote suppressed menstruation, relieve breast pain and encourage expulsion of the placenta[11][7], it should not be given to pregnant women since it can induce a miscarriage[3]. This plant should be used with some caution since in excess it causes giddiness, stupor, confusion and twitching[3].
The plant was once believed of use in the treatment of rabies, though there is no evidence to support this[12][11].
Pollinators: Bees, flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.