Botanical Name: Bupleurum rotundifolium
Family: Apiaceae
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Apiales
Genus: Bupleurum
Species: B. rotundifolium
Synonyms:
*Bupleurum perfoliatum Lam.
*Bupleurum perfoliatum var. rotundifolium (L.) Desv.
*Diatropa rotundifolia (L.) Dumort.
*Perfoliata rotundifolia (L.) Fourr.
*Perfolisa obtusifolia Raf.
*Selinum perfoliatum E.H.L.Krause
*Tenoria rotundifolia Bubani
Common Name: Hare’s ear or Hound’s ear
Habitat: Bupleurum rotundifolium is native to Central to southern Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and the Caucasus. It grows in cornfields, waste places and waysides, often as a weed of cultivated land.
Description:
Bupleurum rotundifolium is an annual flowering plant, growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in). with roundish leaves, the upper ones clasping the reddish stem. Clusters of tiny yellow flowers in rings of leaf-like bracteoles are grouped at the end of each stem branch. Formerly a cornfield weed, it now barely occurs in the wild, but makes a decorative garden annual.
. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position.
Propagation: Seed – sow spring in situ.
Edible Uses:: Leaves – raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a pot-herb. The leaves are also used as a spice.
Medicinal Uses:
According to the Flora of China. there are around 180 accepted species of Bupleurum (as of 2013) of which 42 species (22 of them endemic) are found in China. Most, if not all of these Chinese species are used medicinally, with two of them (Bupleurum chinense and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium being some of the most important and widely used herbs in Chinese Herbal medicine.
Other species in the genus also have medicinal potential. The roots of Bupleurum species in general contain a range of medicinally active compounds including saponins, sterols, lignans, flavonoids, coumarins, polysaccharides and essential oils.
Traditionally the root is used to regulate the metabolism, for the treatment of fever, pain and inflammation associated with influenza and the common cold. In addition, Bupleurum species are also used as analgesics in the treatment of distending pain in the hypochondriac region of the upper abdomen and against amenorrhoea. Many Bupleuri extracts have been used for improvement and protection against chronic hepatitis, nephrotic syndrome and autoimmune diseases.
Recorded below are the specific medicinal uses we have come across for this species. Many of the Bupleurum species not included in the database are likely to also have a range of potential applications.
A tincture of the leaves has been used in the treatment of wounds
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/Bupleurum_rotundifolium
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Bupleurum+rotundifolium
http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Bupleurum+rotundifolium
