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Herbs & Plants

Bitter Orange(Poncirus trifoliata)

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Botanical Name : Poncirus trifoliata
Family : Rutaceae
Subfamily: Aurantioideae
Genus: Poncirus
Synonyms: Aegle sepiaria – DC., Citrus trifoliata– L.’Flying Dragon’
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Tribe: Citreae
Species: P. trifoliata

Habitat:- E. Asia – C. and S. China, Korea.  Hedgerows. Woods in mountains and hills in Korea…Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Description:
A decidious Shrub growing to 3m by 3m at a slow rate.
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.

You may click to see the pictures

Tree  with  flower

Tree with fruits

 

Poncirus is recognisable by the large 3-5 cm spines on the shoots, and its deciduous leaves with three (or rarely, five) leaflets, typically with the middle leaflet 3-5 cm long, and the two side leaflets 2-3 cm long. The flowers are white, with pink stamens, 3-5 cm in diameter, larger than those of true citrus but otherwise closely resembling them, except that the scent is much less pronounced than with true citrus. As with true citrus, the leaves give off a spicy smell when crushed.

The fruits are green, ripening to yellow, and 3-4 cm in diameter, resembling a small orange, but with a finely downy surface. They are very bitter, not edible fresh, but can be made into marmalade; and when dried and powdered, they can be used as a condiment.

The cultivar “Flying Dragon” has highly twisted, contorted stems.
These strange contorted plants are used as Bonsai specimens and also as a dwarfing rootstock for citrus varieties. They are equally hardy as the standard form. Even though they usually come true from seed, they are not considered a separate species.

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

Cultivation :
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in an ordinary garden soil, preferably well-drained, but prefers a fertile light sandy soil in a sunny position. A plant is growing and fruiting well in light woodland shade at Cambridge Botanical Gardens. Plants dislike soil cultivation close to their roots and so should either be well mulched to prevent weed growth, or hand weeded. Succeeds in poor acid soils. Plants also succeed in chalk-laden soils. Hardy to about -15°c. Plants have survived -30°c of frost without injury according to one report. The bitter orange hybridizes with Citrus species and could possibly be used in breeding programmes to produce hardier forms of oranges, lemons etc. It could also be of value in conferring disease resistance, tolerance of poorer soils and dwarfing characteristics. The flowers are produced on the previous years wood. The whole plant, but especially the flowers, is strongly aromatic. A very ornamental plant, the fruits are freely formed in south-western Britain. A hedge at Wisley in a semi-shaded position fruits heavily in most years. Another report says that warm autumns are required if the plant is to fruit freely. Fertile seed is produced after warm summers. Plants are relatively short-lived, deteriorating after about 25 years.

Propagation:-
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Cold stratify stored seed for 4 weeks and sow early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June/July in a frame

Edible Uses:-
Edible Parts: Fruit; Leaves.

Edible Uses: Condiment.

Fruit – cooked. A bitter and acrid flavour, but it can be used to make a marmalade. The fruit is also used to make a refreshing drink. The freshly picked fruit yields little juice but if stored for 2 weeks it will yield about 20% juice, which is rich in vitamin C. Yields of up to 14 kilos of fruit per plant have been achieved in America. The fruit is 2 – 3cm wide, though most of this is the skin. The fruit peel can be used as a flavouring[183]. Young leaves – cooked.

Medicinal Actions & Uses
Antiemetic; Antispasmodic; Carminative; Deobstruent; Digestive; Diuretic; Expectorant; Laxative; Odontalgic; Stimulant; Stomachic; Vasoconstrictor.

The thorns are used in the treatment of toothache. The stem bark is used in the treatment of colds. The fruits contain a number of medically active constituents including flavonoids, coumarins, monoterpenes and alkaloids. The fruit, with the endocarp and seeds removed, is carminative, deobstruent and expectorant. It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation and abdominal distension, stuffy sensation in the chest, prolapse of the uterus, rectum and stomach. It is milder in effect than the immature fruit and is better used for removing stagnancy of food and vital energy in the spleen and stomach. The unripe fruit is antidiarrheic, antiemetic, antispasmodic, deobstruent, digestive, diuretic, laxative, stimulant, stomachic and vasoconstrictor. It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation and abdominal distension, stuffy sensation in the chest, prolapse of the uterus, rectum and stomach, shock.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein by us 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.

Other Uses:
Hedge; Rootstock.

Used as a rootstock for Citrus species (oranges, lemons etc). It confers an extra 3°c resistance to the cold[160]. The plant is very thorny and makes an excellent impenetrable barrier or hedge, though this barrier is not very dense. The plants are very tolerant of pruning, they are best clipped in early summer shortly after flowering.

Scented Plants
Flowers: Fresh
The whole plant, especially the flowers, is strongly aromatic.

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Poncirus+trifoliata
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/poncirustrifoliata/poncirus.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifoliate_orange

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Herbs & Plants

Spring Pheasant’s Eye(Adonis vernalis )

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Botanical Name :Adonis   vernalis
Family: Ranunculaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Adonis
Species: A. vernalis

Other Names:Pheasant’s eye, Spring pheasant’s eye, Yellow pheasant’s eye and False hellebore.(Green false hellebore, sometimes also called simply “false hellebore,” is Veratrum viride, a member of the lily family.)Sweet Vernal

Habitat : C. and S. Europe .This flowering plant is found in dry meadows and steppes in Eurasia. Isolated populations are found from Spain in the west across central and southern Europe, reaching southern Sweden in the north, with its main area of distribution being the Pannonian Basin and the West Siberian Plain and  Sunny grassy hills on dry calcareous soils. A rare plant in most of its range, it has legal protection from gathering in most countries.

Description:
It is a herbaceous  Perennial plant growing to 0.3m by 0.3m.
It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower in March, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile.

The stem is branching, and the leaves many-cleft and sessile. The flowers are large, yellow, and attractive. USE: A toxic principle is present in very small quantities in the plant.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Sweet Vernal is a very beautiful flower. It blooms in early spring and has a rich, golden, buttercup-like glow. Its leaves are like filigree, and very delicate.

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

Cultivation :-
Grows well in any ordinary garden soil that is not too heavy. Prefers a moist well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. Easily grown in a very well-drained rather dry soil in sun or part shade. Plants flower better when growing in a sunny position. This plant is adored by slugs and is therefore very difficult to grow in the open garden where slugs are common. A very ornamental plant, it is rather rare in the wild so only cultivated plants should be harvested. A greedy plant inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes.

Propagation :-
Seed – best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or else it can be slow and erratic to germinate[200, 238]. Sow the seed in partial shade in rich soil in September or March. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first season. Plant out when dormant in the autumn. Division in early spring or in autumn. The divisions can be difficult to establish[200], so it is probably best to pot them up and keep them in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away well.


Medicinal Actions & Uses
Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Sedative; Vasoconstrictor.

Pheasant’s eye has a long history of medicinal use and is still retained in the Pharmacopoeias of several European countries. The plant contains cardiac glycosides similar to those found in the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). These substances improve the heart’s efficiency, increasing its output at the same time as slowing its rate. It also has a sedative action and so is generally prescribed for patients whose hearts are beating too fast or irregularly. The herb is not often prescribed, however, due to irregular absorption. The herb is cardiotonic, diuretic, sedative and vasoconstrictor. It has sometimes been used internally as a cardiotonic with success where the better known foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) has failed – especially where there is also kidney disease. The herb is also used in the treatment of low blood pressure and its strong diuretic action can be used to counter water retention. It is included in many proprietary medicines, especially since its effects are not cumulative. The plants are harvested every third year as they come into flower, they are dried for use in tinctures and liquid extracts. The herb does not store well so stocks should be replaced every year. Use with great caution, see the notes above on toxicity. The plant is used in homeopathy as a treatment for angina.

This is a very special plant because it is a potent heart medicine. The plant contains something called glycoside Adonidin, which is used in remedies for chronic heart problems and as a tranquilizer. It works almost exactly like digitalin, which comes from Foxgloves, but is stronger and doesn’t build up in the body. It is used especially in cases where people are also suffering from kidney disease, as well as heart problems. It does produce vomiting and diarrhea, however and is only used when digitalis fails.

You may click to see how Homeopathic mother tincher is made from Adonis vernalis :

Disclaimer:The information presented herein by us 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.

Known Hazards: The plant is poisonous, containing cardiostimulant compounds, such as adonidin and aconitic acid. In addition, it is often used as a ornamental plant. A toxic principle is present in very small quantities in the plant. It is poorly absorbed so poisoning is unlikely.

Resources:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adonis+vernalis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonis_vernalis
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ADVE&photoID=adve_002_ahp.tif
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sweet_vernal.htm

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Herbs & Plants

Adonis Amurensis

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Botanical Name : Adonis amurensis
Family  : Ranunculaceae

Common Names: Amur Adonis
Genus : Adonis

Habitat : E. Asia – Siberia to China, Japan, Manchuria and Korea.  Found in mountains. Forests and grassy slopes in E Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces, China, Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;


Description:

Perennials Herbs,growing to 0.3m by 0.3m.
It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen from April to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Foliage: “The stems are branched, each stem branch bearing triangular, 3-6” long leaves which are cut into 3 sections to the base. At the base of each petiole are leafy stipules. Each flower has 20-50 petals slightly longer than the sepals and appears just before the leaves fully emerge. The leaves are deep red and unfurled as the flowers begin to open.”

Flowers: Colors: Yellow
Season(s): Spring   “This species flowers as early as February in southern gardens and progressively later further north. The 2″ wide flowers are usually buttercup-yellow but may occasionally be white, rose, or have red stripes. Each flower has 20-50 petals slightly longer than the sepals and appears just before the leaves fully emerge. If the weather remains cool when flowers open, they persist for up to 6 weeks, less if hot weather comes along.”

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

Cultivation:
Grows well in ordinary garden soil and in the light shade of shrubs. Prefers a sunny position and a humus-rich soil. Prefers a moist well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. A very ornamental plant. A greedy plant inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. Plants take about 4 years from seed to flowering.

Propagation:
Seed – best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or else it can be slow to germinate. Sow the seed in partial shade in rich soil in September or March. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow the plants on for their first winter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in early spring or in autumn. The divisions can be difficult to establish, so it is probably best to pot them up first and keep them in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively.

Medicinal Actions & Uses
Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Sedative.

The root is cardiotonic. The whole plant is an effective diuretic and tranquilliser.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by us 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.

Known Hazards :  Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this plant, it belongs to a genus that contains a number of poisonous plants so the following remarks are likely to apply to this species – a toxic principle is present in very small quantities in the plant. It is poorly absorbed so poisoning is unlikely.

Resourcs:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adonis+amurensis
http://navigator.gardenpilot.com/Tag.aspx?pl=26274&pr=4
http://iowagarden.blogspot.com/2007/03/hello-sunshine-adonis-amurensis.html

 
Categories
Herbs & Plants

Summer Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis aestivalis)

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Botanical Name : Adonis aestivalis
Family  : Ranunculaceae
Common Name :Summer pheasant’s-eye
Vernacular names:-
Deutsch: Sommer-Adonisröschen
English: Summer pheasant’s eye
Français: Adonis d’été
Lietuvi?: Vasarinis adonis
Nederlands: Zomeradonis
Polski: Mi?ek letni
Svenska: Sommaradonis
Türkçe: Kandamlas?

Genus : Adonis
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Species: A. aestivalis

Habitat : It is native to Europe but has been introduced elsewhere, such as the western and eastern parts of the United States S. Europe, N. Africa.  Cornfields, usually on calcareous soils. Roadsides, fields, sagebrush scrub, and open pine or aspen forests in valleys and foothills; 1200-2400 m; introduced;


Description:

Plants annual. Stems 10–20 cm tall, branched or unbranched, basally sparsely pubescent. Leaves long petiolate, clustered apically on stem; leaf blade ca. 3.5 cm, increasing in size upward on stem to 6 cm, glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent; upper stem leaves finely 2 or 3 × pinnately divided; ultimate segments linear to lanceolate-linear, 0.4–0.8 mm wide. Sepals 5, narrowly rhombic to narrowly ovate, membranous. Petals orange. Ovary narrowly ovoid with a dorsal ridge, apically narrowed. Achenes ovoid, ca. 3.5 mm, reticulate-veined, with conspicuous dorsal and ventral ridges. Fl. Jun.
CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

It is a medicinal and ornamental plant.
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in July.   The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile.

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

Cultivation:
Grows well in ordinary garden soil. Prefers a moist well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. A greedy plant inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. Very closely related to A. annua.

Propagation:-

Seed – best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, though it can also be sown in situ in the spring.


Medicinal Actions &  Uses

Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Laxative; Lithontripic.
The plant is a cardiotonic, diuretic and stimulant. Some caution is advised in the use of this remedy, see the notes above on toxicity. The flowers are considered to be diuretic, laxative and lithontripic.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by us 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.

Known Hazards : A toxic principle is present in very small quantities in the plant . It is poorly absorbed so poisoning is unlikely. The plant is poisonous to horses.You may click to see & read:

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adonis+aestivalis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonis_aestivalis
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Adonis_aestivalis
http://www.eol.org/pages/594858
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=contains&where-taxon=Adonis+aestivalis

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Herbs & Plants

Adina Rubella

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 Botanical Name:Adina rubella
Family:    Rubiaceae
Subfamily:Cinchonoideae
Tribe:    Naucleeae
Genus:    Adina
Kingdom:    Plantae
Clade:    Angiosperms
Clade:    Eudicots
Clade:    Asterids
Order:    Gentianales

Common Name: Chinese buttonbush, glossy adina

Habitat:Adina rubella   is native to China, E. Asia – China  &  Japan.  It grows on the edges of streams, ditches and ponds.Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Situate Chinese buttonbush in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.


Description:

.This 6- to 8-foot-tall, deciduous shrub is grown for its glossy leaves and spiky, round, creamy-white flowers that appear in early to midsummer. It has smaller leaves and similar but smaller ball-like flowers in early summer.  The flowers could give it the name “Sputnik Shrub”.   It may grow to 10 feet in warmer climates and is soil and moisture tolerant.The flowers give way to small brown fruit clusters several weeks later. Chinese buttonbush is closely related to the North American buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), but is finer-textured and more compact.

CLICK &  SEE

The small lustrous, dark green leaf has reddish margins.  Small ½ inch white, mildly fragrant flowers, appear in June-July and persist into October, giving the plant the appearance of being covered in small white buttons.  Very pleasing.  This plant is very adaptable to most planting sites, except those with consistently wet soils.   Good choice for summer flowering in shady locations. Propagated from rooted stem cuttings.

Click & see the pictures

An annual plant. Radical leaves are 10-14cm long, pinnate, and parted. Lobes are wide, having thin hairs on the edge, shaped in rosette. Cauline leaves have narrower lobes and upper part of them are almost filiform. Fruits are clavate, 5-10cm long, 1.2mm wide, without hair, and fruit stalks are 6-8mm long. Flowers bloom in May-June, raceme on the edge of boughs. Flowers are light yellow, 8mm diameter, cruciate. Flowers have 4 calyxes, 2 of which on the outer part have short horn-shaped projections. Petals are 6-9? long. 4 of the stamens are long and 2 are short. Stem is 20-70cm long, with or without hair.

The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Height : 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Spread : 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Pace :   Moderate Grower
Light  :   Full Sun Only;Full Sun to Part Shade;Part Shade Only
Moisture :  Medium Moisture
Maintenance :  Low
Characteristics:    Showy Flowers; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time  :   Summer
Flower Color :   White Flower
Uses  :   Low- Maintenance
Seasonal Interest :   Summer Interest

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.

Propagation: Root cuttings in summer, protect through winter, and plant out the following spring.

Medicinal Actions & Uses
Astringent, carminative, haemostatic, stimulates the circulation

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:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adina+rubella
http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/adina-rubella-chinese-buttonbush.aspx
http://www.flowerpictures.net/flower_database/a_flowers/adina.html
http://www.smallplants.com/catalog_a-b.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adina_(plant)

http://www.woodlanders.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=267

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