Botanical Name : Eleutherococcus trifoliatus
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily:Aralioideae
Genus: Eleutherococcus
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Apiales
Synonyms: Acanthopanax trifoliatus.
Common Name:Climing Ginseng
Habitat: Eleutherococcus trifoliatus is native to E. Asia – Himalayas. It grows in the thickets. Mountainous areas in Vietnam, occasionally on the edges of forests.
Description:
Eleutherococcus trifoliatus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft 8in). It is scandent or climbers. It has branches with scattered, recurved prickles. Petiole 2-6 cm, glabrous, prickly; petiolules 2-8 mm; leaflets 3(-5), ovate, elliptic-ovate, o r oblong, 4-10 × 2-4.5 cm, papery, adaxially glabrous or slightly setose on midvein and veins, secondary veins 5 or 6 pairs, base cuneate, margin serrulate, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme of umbels or a compound umbel, borne on leafy shoots, with 3-10 umbels; peduncles 2-7 cm; pedicels 1-2 cm. Calyx with 5 teeth, glabrous. Ovary 2-carpellate; styles united to middle. Fruit globose, laterally compressed, 3-4 mm; style bifid, ca. 1.5 mm. It is in flower during Aug-Nov, and fruit matutes in Sep-Dec.
The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution
Cultivation:
Prefers a light warm open loamy humus-rich soil and a position sheltered from north and east winds. Prefers a well-drained soil and full sun. Tolerates urban pollution and poor soils. All parts of the plant are particularly fragrant. Plants are hardy to between -10 and -15°c if they are sheltered from cold winds.
Propagation:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification and can be very slow to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season’s growth, 15 – 30cm long in a cold frame. Root cuttings in late winter. Division of suckers in the dormant season
Edible Uses: Young leaves – cooked.
Medicinal Uses:
Antirheumatic; Infertility; Nervine; Tonic.
The root bark and stem bark contain triterpenoid saponinsand oleanolic acid.They are used in the treatment of rheumatism, lumbago, ostealgia and impotence. The bark is also considered to be a stimulant and tonic for the central nervous system and to improve the memory. The bark is collected in the summer and autumn, wrapped to bring out the aroma and then thoroughly dried. The plant is used in the treatment of colds, coughs, neuralgia, rheumatism and water on the knee.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleutherococcus
http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=4145
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242320223
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Eleutherococcus+trifoliatus
