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Herbs & Plants

Cardamine amara

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Botanical Name ; Cardamine amara
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Cardamine
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Brassicales

Common Names: Bitter Cress or Large Bittercress

Habitat ;Cardamine amara is native to  Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 64° N., east to the Balkans and W. Asia.
Grows  by springs, in fens and on streamsides, preferring a peaty soil. Often found in trickling water. Often the dominant ground flora in alder woods with moving damp water.

Description:
Cardamine amara is a  perennial herb  growing to 0.6m. The leaves can have different forms, going from minute to medium-sized. They can be pinnate or bipinnate. They are basal and cauline (growing on the upper part of the stem), with narrow tips. They are rosulate (forming a rosette). The blade margins can be entire, serrate or dentate. The stem internodes lack firmness.

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The radially symmetrical flowers grow in a racemose many-flowered inflorescence or in corymbs. The white, pink or purple flowers are minute to medium-sized. The petals are longer than the sepals. The fertile flowers are hermaphroditic.

The fruits are long, thin dehiscent pods with many (20-100) seeds. In some regions this plant is considered a nuisance; one author observes, “Weeding this little pest is decidedly unsatisfying, for when its fully ripe pods are touched, they split open and shoot out their seeds, thus spitefully sowing another crop.”

It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June, and the seeds ripen from May to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.

Cultivation :Easily grown in most moist soils. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c. An invasive plant spreading freely by self-sowing, it is best suited to the wild garden. A polymorphic species.

Propagation: Seed – sow outdoors in situ in a shady position in April.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Leaves.

Leaves – raw. A hot cress-like flavour, nice in small quantities in a salad and available all year round in most years. A somewhat bitter flavour.

Medicinal Uses
Antiscorbutic; Diuretic; Stimulant.Used medicinally since early times as a stomachic

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

 

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamine
http://digedibles.com/database/plants.php?Cardamine+amara
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_AB.htm
http://luirig.altervista.org/schedeit/ae/cardamine_amara.htm

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Herbs & Plants

Dentaria diphylla

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Botanical Name : Cardamine diphylla
Family : Brassicaceae – Mustard family
Genus: Cardamine L. – bittercress
Species: Cardamine diphylla (Michx.) Alph. Wood – crinkleroot
Kingdom : Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom:  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division : Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order : Capparales

Synonyms: Dentaria diphylla Michx., Dentaria incisa Small

Common Name : Broadleaf toothwort, Crinkle root, Crinkle-root, Crinkleroot, Pepper root, Twin-leaved Toothwort, Twoleaf toothwort, Toothwort

Habitat :Cardamine diphylla is  native to North America.Its habitat ranges from Georgia north to Ontario and from the Atlantic to Wisconsin.It is found in moist woodlands usually in  the  edge  rich damp woods and meadows.

Description:
Dentaria diphylla is a Perennial plant grows to a height of 30 cm.t is not frost tender. It  blooms from April to June. A member of the mustard family, it is typified by a four petal flower which blooms in a cluster on a single stalk above a single pair of toothed stem leaves each divided into three broad leaflets. After flowering, narrow seedpods appear just below the flower cluster. It grows approximately 30 cm (12 in) tall. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

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The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland).It requires moist soil.

Cultivation:An easily grown plant, preferring a rich light moist soil and a shady position. This species is hardy to about -20°c.

Propagation
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 1 – 3 weeks at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting them out when dormant in late summer. Division in early spring or after the plant dies down in the summer. 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:
Edible Parts: Leaves;  Root.

Root – raw or cooked. It has a crisp texture and a pleasant pungent taste, rather like water cress or horseradish. It can be added to salads or used as a relish[105, 183]. The root has a pungent acrid taste when first harvested, the Indians cleaned the roots, heaped them on a blanket, covered them to exclude air and then left them to ferment for 4 – 5 days. After this the roots developed a sweet taste. Leaves – raw or cooked. The cooking water was changed once in order to remove the bitterness.

Medicinal Uses:

Cardiac;  Carminative;  Febrifuge;  Miscellany;  Odontalgic;  Stomachic.

The peppery root is used as a folk remedy in the treatment of toothache. It has also been chewed in the treatment of colds, an infusion drunk to treat gas and other stomach problems, and it has been made into a poultice for headaches. A tea made from the root is gargled in the treatment of sore throat, hoarseness etc. An infusion of the plant has been used to treat fevers in children. Combined with Acorus calamus root, it has been used in the treatment of heart diseases.

The root of this little plant is a diffusive and somewhat pungent stimulant, when dried; and also possesses a mild tonic power. Its principal influence is expended upon the nervous peripheries, and moderately upon the capillaries. It is of the antispasmodic class of nervines; and is useful in hysterical nervousness and spasms of the more acute form, painful and tardy menstruation, flatulent colic, and similar maladies requiring a diffusive stimulant. It warms the surface, and secures gentle perspiration. It is agreeable in taste, but its influence is rather transient. It has been claimed to have used it for many years with unvarying success in epilepsy. The best method of giving it is a tincture prepared by macerating four ounces of the roots in a quart of diluted alcohol, straining and pressing; of which two to three fluid drachms may be given every four or two hours.     The peppery root is used as a folk remedy in the treatment of toothache. It has also been chewed in the treatment of colds, an infusion drunk to treat gas and other stomach problems. A tea made from the root is gargled in the treatment of sore throat, hoarseness etc. An infusion of the plant has been used to treat fevers in children. Combined with Acorus calamus root, it has been used in the treatment of heart diseases. Toothwort tea can also be used to soothe and calm nerves and is a mild natural relaxant. The fresh juice can aid in digestion. The crushed root of Toothwort can be used externally as a plaster for aches, pains, and rheumatism.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dentaria+diphylla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamine_diphylla
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_C.htm

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