Tag: Dicentra

Categories
Herbs & Plants

Bleeding Heart

 

Botanical Name : Dicentra formosa
Family: Fumariaceae
Genus: Dicentra
Species: D. formosa
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales

Common Name :Bleeding Heart or Pacific bleeding-heart

Habitat :Bleeding Heart is native to moist woodland from California to British Columbia.

Description:
Bleeding Heart is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizome.Leaves are finely divided and fernlike, growing from the base of the plant.

CLICK  &  SEE  THE  PICTURES

Flowers are pink, red, or white and heart-shaped and bloom in clusters at the top of leafless, fleshy stems above the leaves from mid-spring to autumn, with peak flowering in spring. The four petals are attached at the base. The two outer petals form a pouch at the base and curve outwards at the tips. The two inner petals are perpendicular to the outer petals and connected at the tip. There are two tiny, pointed sepals behind the petals.

Seeds are borne in plump, pointed pods…...CLICK  &  SEE

The plant frequently goes dormant for the summer after flowering, emerging and flowering again in autumn.

Similar species:  This species is frequently confused with and sold as Dicentra eximia, which has narrower flowers and longer, more curved outer petal tips.

Subspecies : There are two subspecies:

*Dicentra formosa subsp. formosa — leaves glaucous beneath and never glaucous above, flowers purple pink to pink or white
western slope of Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges to central California, Cascades, extreme southwestern British Columbia

*Dicentra formosa subsp. oregona (often spelled oregana) — leaves glaucous above and beneath, flowers cream or pale yellow
small area of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon

Medicinal Uses:
The early Eclectics seemed to have used Corydalis primarily as an alterative-tonic remedy, with reference to dermatological conditions.  An alterative of great value where indicated. Increases the vitality and influences metabolism. Especially indicated in all glandular derangement with general depraved condition of the system, where the nutritive forces are impaired. It increases waste and improves nutrition. More especially indicated in above conditions where there is an enlarged abdomen, the result of atony, or where there is a persistently coated tongue and fetid breath. In diarrhea and dysentery where tongue is coated, breath fetid and digestion poor, it is a good remedy. In amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and leucorrhea where there is a relaxed condition of the uterine supports it is a valuable adjunct to other indicated remedies. In eczema and other skin diseases with relaxed conditions it is curative. It is an antisyphilitic and can be used in all stages of syphilis, strumous conditions, nodular swelling, enlarged glands, with good results.  Dicentra is used primarily for its analgesic and anodyne properties in western herbalism today. In Asian medicine however, it is also used as a cardiac remedy for arrythmias and hypertension as well as a hypnotic for insomnia.

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/Dicentra_formosa
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_AB.htm
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DIFO&photoID=difo_005_ahp.tif
http://www.rosebay.org/chapterweb/shadegt52.htm

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Categories
Herbs & Plants

Duchman’s Breeches

[amazon_link asins=’B01FTSN3F6,B01EXGACBI,B077K26L47,B000H4HQXS,B075598QV3,B074NZQQ6S’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ac555002-d44a-11e7-96b2-5dff51938678′]

Botanical Name:Dicentra cucullaria
Family : Fumariaceae
Other Name: Dicentra cucullaria
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Dicentra
Species: D. cucullaria

Syninyms:Bicuculla cucullaria[B,P] Corydalis cuccularia[H] D. cuccularia[H] D. cucullaria var. occidentalis[B,P] D. occidentalis[B,P] Fumaria cucullaria[G]

Common Names: Dicentra cucullaria , Dutchman’s breeches (derives from their white flowers that look like white breeches.)

Habitat :Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade. Native to North America.It occurs mainly in the eastern half of the continent, from Nova Scotia and southern Quebec west to eastern North Dakota, and south to northern Georgia and eastern Oklahoma; there is also a disjunct population in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It typically grows in rich woods. The common name Dutchman’s breeches derives from their white flowers that look like white breeches.

Description: It is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 15-40 cm. The leaves are 10-36 cm long and 4-18 cm broad, with a petiole up to 15 cm long; they are trifoliate, with finely divided leaflets. The flowers appear during spring; they are white, 1-2 cm long, and are born on flower stalks 12-25 cm long. Both the leaf stalks and the flower stalks rise from an underground, scaly bulb.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Dutchman’s breeches is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants, a process called myrmecochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes, and put the seeds in their nest debris, where they are protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant nest debris.

This delicate spring flower is well know to those who visit the southern mountains in the early spring. It is sometimes found in abundance on a northern slope or shaded blank that has remained undisturbed for a very long time. It is very rare in the south except for the mountains and in bloom for a very short time.
Lore: Among some northern tribes it may have been used as a love charm or for seduction. Imagine a young man chewing the root and circling the intended female breathing out the fragrance in the belief that once she smells it she will follow him even against her will.(Erichsen-Brown)Flowering time: April to May

Medical Uses: Alterative; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Poultice; Tonic; VD.

Alterative, tonic.

The dried tubers were used as a tonic and were recommended in the treatment of VD.

A tea made from the roots is diaphoretic and diuretic.

A poultice made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of skin ailments and as a muscle rub to make them more limber.

The plant contains an alkaloid that depresses the central nervous system – it is used in the treatment of paralysis and tremors.

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for several conditions including syphilis, skin conditions and as a blood purifier. There are several alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart. Warning: May be toxic and may cause contact dermatitis in some people.

Native Americans and early white practitioners considered this plant useful for syphilis, skin conditions and as a blood purifier. Dutchman’s breeches contains several alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart.

However, D. cucullaria may be toxic and may cause contact dermatitis in some people.The plant is potentially poisonous and can also cause skin rashes.

Similar Species: Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) has more rounded flowers. Turkey Corn or Wild Bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) has pink rounded flowers.

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/Dicentra_cucullaria
http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H289.htm
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Dicentra+cucullaria

Related articles
css.php