Find Me A Cure - Part 35

Debregeasia edulis

Botanical Name: Debregeasia edulis
Family: Urticaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales
Tribe: Boehmerieae
Genus: Debregeasia

Synonyms:
*Basionym Urtica frutescens Thunb.
*Urtica frutescens Thunb.
*Homotypic Boehmeria frutescens (Thunb.) Thunb. Villebrunea frutescens (Thunb.) Blume
*Boehmeria frutescens (Thunb.) Thunb.
*Villebrunea frutescens (Thunb.) Blume

Common Names: Yanagi ichigo

Habitat:Debregeasia edulis is native to E. Asia – from eastern Tibet to central and southern Japan. It grows in the upper sub-tropical zone of the Himalayas in Tibet.

Description:
Debregeasia edulis is an evergreen Shrub. It is in leaf all year.Branchlets are dark reddish and slender. Leaves are dark green, alternate, oblong- to linear-lanceolate, with dark reddish petioles.

*Flower colour : pink
*Leaf colour : green
*Fruit/seed colour : red
*Leaf shape : leaves are narrow longitudinal
*Leaf size : between 5 and 10 cm
*Flowering period : april – may
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

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Cultivation:
Prefers a fertile well-drained loam with some shelter at the hottest part of the day. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they require greenhouse protection. It might be possible to grow this plant outdoors in the mildest areas of the country, especially if it is given the protection of a warm wall. The fruit is difficult to harvest because the it is tender and falls apart easily, therefore it is not suitable for commercial cultivation. The fruit remains on the plant for several weeks and looks particularly ornamental. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit is required. It prefers shaded, wet places in mountain valleys, at an elevation of 300–2,800 metres (980–9,190 ft) above sea level.

Propagation:
Through seeds – sow late winter to mid-summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 – 2 months at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Softwood cuttings in early summer.

Edible Uses: Fruit is edible, eaten – raw. Pleasantly sweet, they are said to resemble strawberries.The fruits can be used to make wine.

Medicinal Uses: A decoction of the leaves and/or the fruits is sudorific. The leaves are decocted with Pterocarya spp and used in the treatment of itch.

Other Uses: Not Known

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/Debregeasia
https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Debregeasia+edulis

Herbs & Plants

Daviesia horrida

Botanical Name:Daviesia horrida
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily:Faboideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Fabales
Genus: Daviesia
Species: D. horrida

Synonyms: Daviesia latifolia. R.Br.

Common Names: Prickly bitter-pea

Habitat: Daviesia horrida is native to Australis – New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It grows in the shrubby understorey of forest in hilly terrain between Bindoon, Busselton and the Pallinup River in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.

Description:
Daviesia horrida is a glabrous, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–1.8 mm (0.020–0.071 in) and has rigid, spiny, often leafless branchlets. The phyllodes, when present are narrowly elliptic to linear, 18–130 mm (0.71–5.12 in) long and 1.5–20 mm (0.059–0.787 in) wide. The flowers are borne in a raceme of three to ten flowers in leaf axils on a peduncle about 1 mm (0.039 in) long, the rachis 1–20 mm (0.039–0.787 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–7 mm (0.039–0.276 in) long with overlapping bracts about 1.7 mm (0.067 in) long at the base. The sepals are 4.5–5.0 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and joined at the base with five equal lobes. The standard petal is broadly elliptic, 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long and orange with a dark red centre, the wings 6.5–7.5 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long and dark red, and the keel 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and dark red. Flowering occurs from July to September and the fruit is a flattened, triangular and beaked pod 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) long.

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Cultivation:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Propagation: Through seeds.

Edible Uses: Not known.

Medicinal Uses: Febrifuge, tonic and vermifuge. Used as a hop substitute. – check if this is medicinal, beer making or eating

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daviesia_horrida
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Daviesia+horrida

Herbs & Plants

Daucus pusillus

Botanical Name: Daucus pusillus
Family: Apiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Apiales
Genus: Daucus
Species: D. pusillus

Synonyms:
*Babiron pusillum Raf.
*Daucus brevifolius Raf.
*Daucus hispidifolius Clos
*Daucus montevidensis Link ex Spreng.
*Daucus scaber Larrañaga
*Daucus scaber Nutt.
*Daucus scadiophylus Raf.

Common Names: American wild carrot and Rattle-snake-weed. Latin name means “little carrot”, or “tiny carrot”

Habitat: Daucus pusillus is native to Western N. America. It grows on the barrens, plains and dry hills. Streambanks, roadsides and waste areas in Texas.

Description:
Daucus pusillus is an annual/ binnial herb, growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). The herb grows erect, slender stem, usually single stem, short stiff hairs, bristly.Leaves are green; petiole long up to 6 inches, margins pinnatisect, 3 or 4 times. Flower are white; flowers on tip of slender stem surrounded by supporting structure of bracts, an involucre, fruit is oblong. Flowering Season is March to May, blooms later in California; April to June.
The seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife.

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Cultivation:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Propagation:
Through Seeds – sow August/September or April in situ. The seed germinates better if it is cold stratified, therefore the autumn sowing is liable to be more successful.

Edible Uses: Roots are edible -eaten raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses:
The plant is antipruritic, blood purifier and febrifuge. A decoction has been used to treat colds, itches, fevers and snakebites. A poultice of the chewed plant has been applied to snakebites.

Known Hazards: Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daucus_pusillus
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Daucus+pusillus

Herbs & Plants

Datura quercifolia

Botanical Name: Datura quercifolia
Family: Solanaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Solanales
Genus: Datura
Species: D. quercifolia

Synonyms:

Common Names: Oak-leaved thorn-apple, Oak Leaf Datura, Chinese thorn-apple

Habitat:Datura quercifolia is native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States -( Arizona to Mexico). It grows equally well in dry and moist soils and requires full sun. It contains a mix of alkaloids that are poisonous and can be potentially lethal when ingested.

Description:
Datura quercifolia is an annual herb, growing to 1.5 m (5ft)
It can assume both a prostrate and an upright bushy habit, with bushier forms reaching up to 3 ft. in height. It produces green seed capsules armed with long sharp spines, which, like those of some Datura species, open by four equal valves. The funnel-shaped flowers are white and pale violet tipped with five short triangular teeth and are less than 2 in. long.

The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

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Cultivation:
Prefers a rich light sandy soil and an open sunny position. Grows best in a fertile calcareous soil. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. This species is extremely susceptible to the various viruses that afflict the potato family (Solanaceae), it can act as a centre of infection so should not be grown near potatoes or tomatoes. Closely related to D. stramonium.

Propagation:
Through seeds -Sow the seed in individual pots in early spring in a greenhouse. Put 3 or 4 seeds in each pot and thin if necessary to the best plant. The seed usually germinates in 3 – 6 weeks at 15°c. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Especially in areas with hot summers, it is worthwhile trying a sowing outdoors in situ in mid to late spring.

Ediable Uses:
Fruits are edible – ground up and mixed with clay ( the clay probably has a neutralizing effect on the toxins). A very toxic plant, its use cannot be recommended. The fruit is about 7cm long and 6cm wide. A stupefying beverage is made from the leaves and roots.

Medicinal Uses:
The whole plant is narcotic. It has been used in the past to deaden pain, treat insomnia etc, but any use of this plant should only be carried out under the supervision of a qualified practitioner since the difference between the medicinal dose and a toxic dose is very small.

Other Uses:
Unlike Datura inoxia Datura quercifolia does not have much ornamental value. Datura species are extremely susceptible to the various viruses that afflict the potato family (Solanaceae), it can act as a centre of infection so should not be grown near potatoes or tomatoes.

Known Hazards: All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or other animals, including livestock and pets. In some places it is prohibited to buy, sell or cultivate Datura plants.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_quercifolia
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Datura+quercifolia

Herbs & Plants

Datisca cannabina

Botanical Name: Datisca cannabina
Family: Datiscaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Cucurbitales
Genus: Datisca
Species: D. cannabina

Synonyms:
*Cannabina laevis Moench
*Datisca glabra Stokes
*Datisca nepalensis D.Don

Common Names: False hemp, Acalbir, Akalbir

Habitat: Datisca cannabina is native to the Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus, Anatolia, the Levant, the Transcaucasus, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the western Himalayas and Nepal. It grows on the banks of streams in rich alluvial soils.

Description:
Datisca cannabina is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant producing a clump of unbranched, arching stems from a somewhat woody base; it can grow around 1.8 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower in September, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). The plant is not self-fertile.The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and as a dyestuff.

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Cultivation:
Requires a good deep soil and a sunny position. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. Give the roots protection from winter frosts by mulching them. At one time this plant was commonly cultivated as a dye plant, but with the advent of chemical dyes it has fallen into disuse. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation:
Through Seeds – sow spring in a greenhouse, only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 – 3 weeks at 18°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in the spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Edible Uses: Not Known.

Medicinal Uses:
The leaves and flowering stems are bitter, diuretic, febrifuge and purgative. The root is used as a sedative in the treatment of rheumatism. It is also applied to carious teeth.

Other Uses: A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves, root and stems.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datisca_cannabina
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Datisca+cannabina