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Dryopteris crassirhizoma

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Botanical Name:Dryopteris crassirhizoma
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Dryopteris (dry-OP-ter-iss) (Info)
Species: crassirhizoma
Synonyms:
*Dryopteris buschiana
*Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott, misapplied
*Dryopteris buschiana Fomin
*Dryopteris setosa Kudo

Common Name :Guan Jung, Crown Wood-Fern

Habitat : Dryopteris crassirhizoma is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and Siberia.It grows on mountains all over Japan. A terrestrial fern, growing on the humus-rich floor of temperate forests, often in colonies . Grows in  wooded slopes. Hardy to -25°C, USDA Zone 5.

Description:
Dryopteris crassirhizoma is a very beautiful fern. It is very vase-shaped, though the semi-evergreen leaves lie flat in the winter, then die back as the new fronds emerge.

..….CALICK TO SEE THE PICTURES.

Rhizome: stout, 10 cm across, erect, bearing more than ten ascending fronds in a beautiful whorl, scales lanceolate to linear, larger ones more than 4 cm long.

Frond: 100 cm high by 20 cm wide, deciduous, monomorphic, blade/stipe ratio: 4:1.

Stipe: grooved, straw colored, densly scaly, lanceolate to linear, brown, lustrous, vascular bundles: 3-7 in a c-shaped pattern.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Blade: almost 2-pinnate, deltate-ovate to lanceolate, widest at the middle, herbaceous , linear to ovate scales below, absent above.

Pinnae: catadromous; costae grooved above, continuous from rachis to costae; segments oblong, rounded; margins crenate; veins free, forked, immersed on upper surface.

Sori: round, confined to upper pinnae, indusium: reniform, at a sinus, sporangia: brownish.

Cultivation:
Prefers an acid to neutral soil, succeeding in ordinary fertile soil in a shady position. Prefers a moist soil, but is drought tolerant when well established. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation:
Spores – can be sown at any time of the year in a greenhouse. Surface sow on a sterilised compost and keep moist, possibly by placing the pot in a plastic bag. Germinates in 1 – 3 months at 20°c. Pot up small clumps of the plants when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Division in spring. 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:  Young fronds are sometimes eaten.  No further details are found, but we would advise caution. See the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses:
The root contains ‘filicin’, a substance that paralyses tapeworms and other internal parasites and has been used as a worm expellant for humans and also in veterinary medicine. It is one of the most effective treatments known for tapeworms – its use should be immediately followed by a non-oily purgative such as magnesium sulphate in order to expel the worms from the body. An oily purge, such as caster oil, increases the absorption of the fern root and can be dangerous. The root is also taken internally in the treatment of internal hemorrhage, uterine bleeding, mumps and feverish illnesses. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use, it should not be stored for longer than 12 months.  Externally, the root is used in the treatment of abscesses, boils, carbuncles and sores.
In recent times this herb has been prescribed as a preventive measure during influenza epidemics. Guan zhong preparations strongly inhibit the flu virus in vitro. In one clinical trial, 306 people took twice-weekly doses of guan zhong and 340 served as controls. In the treatment group, 12 percent became ill versus 33 percent of the controls. Local versions of guan zhong from Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces have mildly inhibitory effects in vitro against many pathogenic bacteria. Guan zhong also is effective against pig roundworms in vitro, and it expels tapeworms and liver flukes in cattle.
In other studies, decoctions and alcohol extracts of dong bei guan zhong strongly stimulated the uterus of guinea pigs and rabbits. It increased the frequency and strength of contractions. Intramuscular injections of dong bei guan zhong preparations were used with more than 91-percent success to treat postpartum, post miscarriage, and postsurgical bleeding. Guan zhong is usually combined with other anti-infection herbs, like isatis, and provided in prepared remedies for both treating and preventing respiratory tract infections. For example, a folk practice in southern China is to treat drinking water with this herb to ward off common cold. Disease spread is also prevented by burning guanz hong with moxa (Artemisia argyi) as a fumigant.
Known Hazards : Although we have found no reports for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. The fresh plant contains thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase. However, there have been reports for other species of ferns suggesting that even cooked fronds can have a long term harmful effect. Some caution is therefore advised.

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://hardyfernlibrary.com/ferns/listSpecies.cfm?Auto=30
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_FGH.htm
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76393/

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dryopteris+crassirhizoma

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Aristolochia grandiflora

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Botanical Name : Aristolochia grandiflora
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: A. grandiflora
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Piperales

Common Name :Pelican Flower,Contribo

Habitat :Aristolochia grandiflora is native to the Caribbean, and has been introduced to Florida in the United States as an attractor of butterflies.

Description:
Aristolochia grandiflora, or Pelican Flower, is a deciduous vine with enormous flowers that emit an odor that humans consider unpleasant but attractive to insects. The plant is native to the Caribbean, and has been introduced to Florida in the United States as an attractor of butterflies.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

This botanical wonder will bloom in spring, summer and fall. These 8″ wide, burgundy and cream patchwork petals will astound you as you gaze into a bull’s eye of red. Upon closer inspection, one is carried through a yawning mouth which leads to an inflated pouch. Hardy to Zone 10 and higher for outdoors.

Click to see & listen :Smithsonian Gardens – Aristolochia grandiflora (Pelican Flower)

Medicinal Uses;
It has a number of reported uses in Central America.  Contribo can often be seen soaking in a bottle of rum at saloons, since it is taken by the shot for everything from hangovers and flu to amoebas, flatulence, late menstrual periods, and irregular heartbeat.  The crushed leaves are sometimes applied as a plaster for skin diseases, as a poultice for snakebite, and as an emmenagogue and treatment for diarrhea.

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.facebook.com/pages/Aristolochia-grandiflora/110446689008350
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristolochia_grandiflora
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Aristolochia_grandiflora

http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R1066-2

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Buckler Fern

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Botanical Name : Dryopteris dilatata
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Dryopteris
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Dryopteridales

Synonyms:
Dryopteris austriaca (Jacq.) Schinz. & Thell., misapplied
Polypodium dilatatum Hoffmann
Aspidium dilatatum Sm.
Dryopteris spinulosa ssp. dilatata (Hoffm.) C. Chr.
Lastrea dilatata Presl
Nephrodium dilatatum Desv.
Polystichum dilatatum (Hoffm.) Schumacher
Thelypteris dilatata House

Common Names :Buckler Fern, Broad,Wood ferns, Male ferns,Broad buckler fern,Shield Fern

Habitat : Buckler Fern is native to Europe, including Britain, Iceland and N. Russia south and east to Spain and temperate Asia.  It  grows in woods, hedgebanks, wet heaths, shady rock ledges and crevices.

Description:

Rhizome: erect, branching.

Frond: 100 cm high by 25 cm wide, deciduous, monomorphic, blade/stipe ratio: 3:1.

Stipe: grooved, scales ovate-lanceolate, dark brown with a darker central stripe, vascular bundles: 3-7 in a c-shaped pattern.

Blade: 3-pinnate, ovate to lanceolate, herbaceous to somewhat leathery, linear to ovate scales below, absent above.

Pinnae: 12 to 15 pair, opposite; pinnules nearest pinnule of the lowest pinnae longer than the next one; costae grooved above, continuous from rachis to costae; margins serrate, spinulose, bending under; veins free, forked.

Sori: round, in 1 row between midrib and margin, indusium: reniform, attached at a sinus, sporangia: brown then black, maturity: midsummer to mid fall.

CLICK & SEE  THE  PICTURES
Cultivation:
An easily grown plant, it prefers an acid to neutral soil, succeeding in ordinary fertile soil in a shady position. Prefers a moist soil, but is drought tolerant when well established. Plants are evergreen in mild winters. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation:
Spores – can be sown at any time of the year in a greenhouse. Surface sow on a sterilised compost and keep moist, possibly by placing the pot in a plastic bag. Germinates in 1 – 3 months at 20°c. Pot up small clumps of the plants when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Division in spring. 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.

Medicinal Uses:
The root contains ‘filicin’, a substance that paralyses tapeworms and other internal parasites and has been used as a worm expellent. It is one of the most effective treatments known for tapeworms. Its use should be immediately followed by a non-oily purgative such as magnesium sulphate in order to expel the worms from the body. An oily purge, such as caster oil, increases the absorption of the fern root and can be dangerous. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use, it should not be stored for longer than 12 months. This remedy should be used with caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The root is toxic and the dosage is critical.  The root is also used in the treatment of dandruff.

Dryopteris filix-mas was throughout much of recent human history widely used as a vermifuge, and was the only fern listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.

Other uses:
Buckler Fern is highly desired as garden ornamental plants, especially D. erythrosa (autumn fern, often sold in garden outlets) and D. filix-mas, a very popular garden fern in the British Isles and Europe, with numerous cultivars.

The leaves can be used as a packing material for fruit etc. Plants can be grown as a ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way.

 Known Hazards: A  number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. The fresh plant contains thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase. However, there have been reports for other species of ferns suggesting that even cooked fronds can have a long term harmful effect. Some caution is therefore advised.

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.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_AB.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryopteris
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Dryopteris_dilatata
http://hardyfernlibrary.com/ferns/listSpecies.cfm?Auto=17

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dryopteris+dilatata

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Crinum asiatica

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Botanical Name : Crinum asiatica
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Tribe: Amaryllideae
Subtribe: Crininae
Genus: Crinum
Species: C. asiaticum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales

Common names : , Grand Crinum Lily, Grand Crinum Lily, Spider Lily,Kanwal, Nagdaun, Badakanvar, Chindar, Gadambhikanda, Nagadamani, Sudarshan, Poison bulb.


Habitat :Crinum asiaticum is native to tropical southeastern Asia( China, Hong Kong, India, Ryukyu Islands and Mainland Japan). It is now a favorite landscape plant in Florida, the Gulf Coast, California and other warm climate areas.

Description:
This big crinum lily makes an imposing presence in the garden. The dark green strap-like leaves may be more than 3 ft (1 m) long and 4 in (10 cm) wide. These are held erect and arranged in a spiral rosette to form impressive clumps up to 5 ft (1.5 m) in height by 7 ft (2 m) in width. The leaves emerge from huge bulbs that may weigh 10-20 lbs (5-9 kg)! Flowers are shaped like tubes that flair open into a crown of narrow petals. The flowers are white and are arranged in clusters atop thick, succulent stems.
CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES
Main features: Grows up to 1.5m, in freshwater or brackish swamps.

Leaves: Long (2m) strap-like, fleshy.

Flowers: Clustered; white; fragrant.

Fruits: Globose; shiny white when ripe; seeds irregularly shape.

Cultivation:
Grand crinum lily is happy in just about any type of well drained soil.
Light: It prefers bright sunny situations but will grow in part shade.

Moisture: Provide average water. Crinum lilies do well in dry soils and are fairly drought tolerant.

Hardiness:USDA Zone 9 – 11. You can grow this crinum in Zone 8, but foliage is killed by freezing winter temperatures. I have several of these growing in Tallahassee; they suffer some degree of cold damage every year but quickly recover their attractiveness in the spring.

Propagation: To propagate crinums, dig up a clump and separate the small offset bulbs from the parent bulb. Plant these in pots or directly in the garden where they will quickly root to form new plants.Grand crinum lily is happy in just about any type of well drained soil.

Medicinal Uses:

Traditional medicinal uses:
It is used as a poultice for aches, sores and chaps. Crushed leaves are used to treat piles, mixed with honey and applied to wounds and abscesses.

Click to see :Tonsilitis Home Remedy Using Crinum

Other Usage:
Use the grand crinum to create a tropical mood near the pool or patio. Use like sculpture to create a focal point in the garden or in an expanse of lawn. This big lily looks great with palm trees and ornamental grasses. Their drought resistance make them useful in xeriscapes. It also does well in a container.

Known Hazards:All parts of crinum lily may cause severe discomfort if ingested, and the sap alone can cause skin irritation.

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.floridata.com/ref/c/crin_asi.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinum_asiaticum
http://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/crinum_lily.htm

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Ardisia japonica

Botanical Name : Ardisia japonica
Family: Myrsinaceae
Genus: Ardisia
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ericales
Species: A. japonica
Common Name: Japanese Ardisia; Marlberry; Maleberry

Habitat :Native to eastern Asia, in eastern China, Japan and Korea.Woods in hills and low mountains all over Japan. Mixed forests or bamboo woods, hillsides and dark damp places at elevations up to 1200 metres


Description:
Ardisia japonica is a species of Ardisia. It is a low-growing, spreading very quickly evergreen shrub 20–40 cm tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls, ovate, 4-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm broad, with a sharply serrated margin and an acute apex. The flowers are 4–10 mm diameter, with five (rarely six) white to pale pink petals; they are produced in racemes in late spring. The fruit is a drupe 5-6 mm diameter, red maturing dark purple-black in early winter.
CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES
It is a low evergreen groundcover that spreads by underground rhizomes. It is grown in shaded areas . Japanese Ardisia flowers on the stem tips in the fall with small white flowers followed by red fruit during the winter.


Cultivation :
Prefers a well-drained humus rich soil in partial shade in a position sheltered from cold drying winds. Hardy to about -10°c, it succeeds outdoors in S.W. England but is not wholly hardy at Kew. It does well in a woodland situation. A number of cultivars have been developed for their ornamental value.

Hardiness: USDA Zone 8,  Exposure: Part Sun to Shade,  Water Requirements: Medium

soil   :  well drained soil
seed   :  small red fruit in fall
foliage  :   Evergreen
fall color :    bronze/green

Dark green leathery leaves. Prefers acidic, organic well-drained soil. White star shaped flowers followed by 1/4″ red fruit through winter. Smaller leaves and lower growth habit than the species and slightly hardier.

Weed problems
It has escaped from cultivation and established itself in the wild in the United States, in Gainesville, Florida.

Propagation:
Seed – best harvested when it is ripe in the winter and sown immediately in a greenhouse[1]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, once the plants are 20cm or more tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in summer[200]. Grow on in cool, shaded humid conditions until well rooted

Medicinal uses:
Antidote;  Antitussive;  Cancer;  Carminative;  Depurative;  Diuretic;  Expectorant.
It is used as a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called z?j?n niú (traditional Chinese: ???), and is considered one of the 50 Fundamental Herbs.

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, especially in cases of bronchitis, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs. Carminative, depurative, expectorant, stimulates blood circulation. The leaves are used in the treatment of cancer and hepatoma. A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of coughs and uterine bleeding. The root is antidote and diuretic. The plant is depurative.

Precautions:
Large doses of the plant as medicine can be toxic to the kidneys.

Other Uses
Hedge;  Hedge.
Plants can be grown as a trimmed hedge. A number of cultivars have been selected for growing as ornamental plants, including ‘Hakuokan’ and ‘Ito Fukurin’ with variegated leaves, ‘Hinotsukasa’, with pale cream-coloured leaves, and ‘Matsu Shima’ with pink stems and variegated leaves.

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/Ardisia_japonica
http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.com/productdescrip/Ardisia_Green.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/ardisia_japonica.html
http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/ardisiajaponicachirimen.html
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ardisia%20japonica

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