Tag: Magnoliopsida

Canella alba

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Botanical Name : Canella alba
Family : Canellaceae Canellaceae
Kingdom : Plantae Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Tracheobionta
Division : Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Magnoliidae Magnoliidae
Order : Canellales Canellales
Gender : Canella Canella
:Species : C. C. alba dawn
Synonyms:Canella. White Wood. Wild Cinnamon. Canellae Cortex, Canella winteriana

Common Names :Kilyuram patai, Castilian: Mullein, white Canella, Palo malambo.

Habitat: It is native to the West Indies Caribbean common areas and Florida.

Description:
A straight tree, from 10 to 50 feet in height with numerous branches with leaves. The bark is whitish and the leaves alternate, oblong, thick, and of a dark, shining, laurel green.The whole plant is aromatic and evokes the smell of black currant , but not to be confused with cinnamon true (Cinnamomum). The leaves are alternate, obovate or oblanceolate, coriaceous, dark green dotted with translucent glands. The upper surface is dark and the lower surface bright green, lighter and mate. The inflorescences are usually terminal, sometimes axillary.

click to see..>…..(01)....(1).…....(2)………………………………………………..

The flowers are small, and seldom open. They have 3 sepals 2-3 mm thick and 5 petals obovate, 5-6 mm, bright red color with a yellowish base, 10 stamens with filaments united into a staminal tube 3-4 mm and anthers yellow to orange, and a short style but bigger.
They are of a violet colour, and grow in clusters at the tops of the branches. They last from June to September.

The fruit is a berry globose green and vermilion, and finally almost black7-10 mm in diameter. Contains up to 5 seeds black, shiny, oblong, 5-6 mm.Although the flowers are hermaphrodites , they behave as unisexual flowers.

The fruit is an oblong berry containing four kidney-shaped seeds, and turns from green to blue and then to a glossy black. The wild pigeons of Jamaica eat the fruit, and their flesh is flavoured by them. The whole tree is aromatic, and if the flowers are dried, then softened again in warm water, they have a fragrance resembling musk. Canella was first introduced into Britain in 1600. The Spaniards, on seeing it in America, thought it was a species of cinnamon, and brought it to Europe as ‘white cinnamon.’
The corky layer of the bark can be gently beaten off, and the inner bark is dried, and exported chiefly from the Bahamas.

In commerce the bark is found in quills or twisted pieces, of a pale orange-brown, with characteristic markings scars, or spots. The fracture is short, granular, and whitish. The odour is agreeable, resembling cloves and cinnamon, and the taste is pungent, bitter, and acrid.

The negroes and Caribs use it as a condiment or spice, and it is sometimes added by smokers to their tobacco to remove the unpleasant odour and make their rooms fragrant.

Constituents: A volatile oil, gum, starch, canellin, bitter extractive, resin, albumen, mannite, etc. The oil has a pungent, aromatic taste, and contains eugenol, cineol, and terpenes. There is no tannin.

Contains pentosan (16.7%). manito(8.71%), nitrogenous (8.5%), reducing substance(16%),ash (7.4%), and small amounts of plowing, Glaktos and xylan.

Medicinal Action and Uses:

Part Used: The bark, deprived of its corky layer and dried.

It is aromatic , stimulant , digestive , stomach , tonic, antiscorbutic . Macerated bark is used in rubbing alcohol against rheumatism , the cooking for the stomach , is given as a febrifuge , is included among the stimulants general and aphrodisiacs . It is part of Rhubarb wine of the British Pharmacopoeia. The bark is used.

An aromatic bitter, useful in enfeebled conditions of the stomach, and often given with other medicines. It was formerly given in scurvy. The powder is used with aloes as a stimulating purgative. (This is a descendant of the Hiera Piera of Galen. – EDITOR.) It is often sold as a substitute for winter’s bark, but it contains no tannic acid, or oxide of iron, both of which are present in the other.

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://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fes.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCanella_alba.
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cinwhi70.html

http://handicraft.indiamart.com/products/decorative-items/dry-flowers/canella.html

http://www.increasemyvocabulary.com/definition/of/canella-winterana/

Tags Bahamas, Bark, Biology, British Pharmacopoeia, Canella, Cinnamomum, Flora and Fauna, Flowering plant, Magnoliopsida, Plant, Plantae

Herbs & Plants

Nona (Annona reticulata Linn)

Post author By Mukul
Post date December 3, 2010
1 Comment on Nona (Annona reticulata Linn)

Botanical Name :Annona reticulata Linn
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Annona
Species: A. reticulata
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Magnoliales
Common Names :Ramphal, Bullock’s heart, Nona, Luvuni, West Indian Custard-Apple, Anta, Nena, Lavati, Aninuna, Ramachita.

Vernacular Names :
English: bullock’s-heart, custard-apple, ox-heart, wild sweetsop
French: annone réticulée, coeur de boeuf, cachiman, cachimantier, corossolier sauvage, cachiman créme
German: Netzannone, Ochsenherz, Schleimapfel
Portuguese: biribá, fruta-de-condessa, fruta-do-conde, biribarana
Spanish: anona corazón, corazón de buey, mamán, cachimán, candón, cherimoya.
Swahili: mtomoko
Indonesian: Srikaya, Buah Nona
Malay: Buah nona, Lonang, Nona kapri
Indonesian: Srikaya, Buah Nona
Malay: Buah nona, Lonang, Nona kapri
Vietnamese: Bình Bát
Telugu: seetha phalam

Bengali Name: Nona

Habitat :
Possibly a native of the Caribbean and Central America, Annona reticulata is now pantropical and can be found growing between altitudes of 0 metres (0 ft) to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in areas of Central America that have alternating seasons.

Cultivated and naturalized in many parts of the world including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India, Australia, and West Africa.

Native
Nearctic:
Central Mexico: Veracruz
Neotropic:
Central America: Belize, Chiapas, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Trinidad
Northern South America: Guyana, Venezuela
Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Para, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
Western South America: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay

Description
It is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree reaching 8 metres (26 ft) to 10 metres (33 ft) tall with an open, irregular crown.
CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURES..>….(01).……….(1).…....(2).….(3)…….(4).…
Stems and leaves
The slender leaves are not hairy, straight and pointed at the apex (in some varieties wrinkled), 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 7 centimetres (2.8 in) wide.

Flowers
The yellow-green flowers are generally in clusters of three or four 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) diameter, with three long outer petals and three very small inner ones.

Fruits and reproduction .(.CLICK TO SEE PICTURE)
The fruit is variable in shape: heart-shaped or spherical. The size ranges from 7 centimetres (2.8 in) to 1 centimetre (0.39 in), depending on the cultivar. When ripe, the fruit is brown or yellowish, with red highlights and a varying degree of reticulation, depending again on the variety. Skin is thin, covering a cream-colored juicy and sweet pulp.The flesh varies from juicy and very aromatic to hard with a repulsive taste.

Chemical constituents and characteristics:-
*The bark yields an alkaloid of the aporphine type.
*The bark and seeds are high in tannic acid.
*The fresh leaves are antihelminthic internally and suppurant externally.
*The bark is astringent and tonic.

Edible Uses: Fruits are edible

Medicinal Uses:
Parts used :
Leaves and fruit.

Folkloric
Indigestion: Warm the leaves in open fire. Apply to stomach while still warm; use abdominal binder. Renew every 2 hours. Also used for babies and children.
The powdered bark used for dysentery and diarrhea.
Fruit is antihelminthic; the dried unripe fruit is astringent and used for diarrhea and as vermifuge.
The unripe fruit is dried, pulverized and used for diarrhea and dysentery.
The roots used for epilepsy.
Crushed leaves or paste of the fruit used as poultice for boils, abscesses and ulcers.
Decoction of the bark is astringent and taken as tonic.
In severe diarrheal cases, a potent decoction is made from the leaves, bark and green fruits, boiled together for five minutes in a liter of water.
Fragments of root bark are packed around the gums to relieve toothache.
Root decoction as febrifuge.The roots used for epilepsy.

Other Uses:
Fruit used in the New Year tradition of “bilog-bilog” for good luck – a bowlful collection of fruits (anonas, mansanas, ubas, pakwan, pinya, bayabas, etc) with other sundry items like cotton, salt, and coins.
Leaves used in tanning, yields a blue or black dye.
Young twigs yield a superior fiber.

Studies
• Phytochemicals: Study isolated two annonaceous acetogenins from the seeds of Anona reticulata: squamone and isoannonareticin.
• Anthelmintic: (1) Study showed the ethanol extract of Annona reticulata exhibited anthelmintic activity, taking less time to cause paralysis of the earthworms, Pherentima posthuma. Activity was attributed to a compound present in fraction of the ethanol extract. (2) Extracts from the bark of A reticulata showed potent anthelmintic activity.
• Annonacin / Cytotoxicity / Anti-Cancer: Study of annonacin isolated from the seeds of A reticulata showed it caused significant cell death in various cancer lines and suggests a potentially promising anticancer compound.
• Antioxidant Study: In a study of antioxidant potential of leaves of three diffferent species of Annona, A reticulata showed better activity in quenching DPPH and superoxide radical than A squamosa and A muricata.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annona_reticulata
http://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Anonas.html
http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/anonas.htm

Tags Annona, Biology, Central America, Flora and Fauna, Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Plantae, South America

Herbs & Plants

Sweet Acacia (Acacia famesiana Willd.)

Post author By Mukul
Post date November 7, 2010
No Comments on Sweet Acacia (Acacia famesiana Willd.)

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Botanical Name :Acacia famesiana Willd.
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vachellia
Species: V. farnesiana
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Syn. : Vachellia farnesiana Linn
Common Names: Farnese Wattle, Dead Finish, Mimosa Wattle, Mimosa bush, Prickly Mimosa Bush, Prickly Moses, Needle Bush(It is so named because of the numerous thorns distributed along its branches), North-west Curara, Sheep’s Briar, Sponge Wattle, Sweet Acacia, Thorny Acacia, Thorny Feather Wattle, Wild Briar, Huisache, Cassie, Cascalotte, Cassic, Mealy Wattle, Popinac, Sweet Briar, Texas Huisache, Aroma, (Bahamas) Cashia, (Bahamas, USA) Opoponax, Cashaw, (Belize) Cuntich, (Jamaica) Cassie-flower, Cassie, Iron Wood, Cassie Flower, Honey-ball, Casha Tree, Casha, (Virgin Islands) Cassia, (Fiji) Ellington’s Curse, Cushuh, (St. Maarten).

Habitat:The native range of Needle Bush is uncertain. While the point of origin is Mexico and Central America the species has a pantropical distribution incorporating Northern Australia and Southern Asia. It remains unclear whether the extra-American distribution is primarily natural or anthropogenic.The plant has been recently spread to many new locations as a result of human activity and it is considered a serious weed in Fiji, where locals call it Ellington’s Curse. It thrives in dry, saline or sodic soils. It is also a serious pest plant in parts of Australia, including north-west New South Wales, where it now infests thousands of acres of grazing country.

Description:
It is deciduous over part of its range, but evergreen in most locales.The species grows to a height of up to 8 metres (26 ft) and has a life span of about 25–50 years.It is a medium-sized shrub with many spreading branches and basal stems. The
leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound with two to six pairs of pinnae, each with 10 to 25 pairs of narrow leaflets 3 to 5 mm in length. The slightly zigzag twigs are dark brown with light-colored dots (lenticels) and paired spines 3 to 20 mm in length at the nodes. The older bark is also dark brown and smooth. Its bright yellow or orange flowers, produced over a period of 2 to 4 months, depending on locality, are very fragrant and used in the perfume industry in France and elsewhere.
click to see the pictures….>……(01)....(1).….…(2).…....(3).…...(4)…...(.5)....……………..
Sweet acacia produces small (to 5 mm in length) flowers that have functional male and female parts, borne in compact rounded heads 0.6 to 1.3 cm across. The flowers are very fragrant and are pollinated by bees and other insects. The thick, slightly flattened pods, 4 to 9 cm in length and 0.5 to 1.3 cm broad, are produced in abundance after about 3 years. They mature 4 to 6 months after flowering and contain a number of hard-coated, brown seeds embedded in a pulpy mesocarp.

Cultivation :
Prefers a light sandy loam and a very sunny position sheltered from strong winds. Plants can grow well in pure sand. Most species in this genus become chlorotic on limey soils. Established plants are very drought tolerant. The species and its cultivars are reported to exhibit tolerance to drought, high pH, heat, low pH, salt, sand, slope, and Savannah. Plants tolerate a pH range from 5.0 to 8.0. Whilst this species is not very tolerant of cold, being damaged by even a few degrees of frost, the variety A. farnesiana cavenia seems to be more resistant to both drought and frost. Both A. farnesiana and its var. cavenia are extensively cultivated for the essential oil in their flowers in and around Cannes, southern France, which is the centre for production of the perfume. A good bee plant. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagation :
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 – 4 weeks at 25°c. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[

Medicinal Uses:-
Astringent; Demulcent; Poultice; Stomachic.

The bark is astringent and demulcent. Along with the leaves and roots it is used for medicinal purposes. Colombians bathe in the bark decoction as a treatment for typhoid. The gummy roots have been chewed as a treatment for sore throat. A decoction of the gum from the trunk has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea. An infusion of the flowers has been used as a stomachic. It is also used in the treatment of dyspepsia and neuroses. The flowers are added to ointment, which is rubbed on the forehead to treat headaches. The powdered dried leaves have been applied externally as a treatment for wounds. The green pods have been decocted and used in the treatment of dysentery and inflammations of the skin and raucous membranes. An infusion of the pod has been used in the treatment of sore throats, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, conjunctivitis, and uterorrhagia. The juice of the bark is used in Nepal to treat swellings

Traditional medicine:
The bark and the flowers are the parts of the tree most used in traditional medicine. V. farnesiana has been used in Colombia to treat malaria, and it has been confirmed in the laboratory that extract from the tree bark and leaves is effective against the malarial pathogen Plasmodium falciparum. Indigenous Australians have used the roots and bark of the tree to treat diarrhea and diseases of the skin. The tree’s leaves can also be rubbed on the skin to treat skin diseases.

One or more alkaloids present in Vachellia farnesiana: “phenethylamine; N-methly-.beta.-phenethylamine; tyramine; hordenine; N,N-dimethyl-phenethylamine; and N,N-dimethyl-.alpha.-methylphenethylamine” in the “leaves, bark, and roots.”

The following compounds are said to be in Vachellia farnesiana:

*5-MeO-DMT
*Tryptamine
*?-methyl-phenethylamine, flower.

Ether extracts about 2-6% of the dried leaf mass. Alkaloids are present in the bark.

Other Uses:

Some of the reported uses of the plant:

Bark:...click to see

The bark is used for its tannin content. Highly tannic barks are common in general to acacias, extracts of many being are used in medicine for this reason. (You may click & See cutch:).

Food....click to see
“Roasted pods used in sweet and sour dishes.”

Flowers..click to see
The flowers are processed through distillation to produce a perfume called Cassie. It is widely used in the perfume industry in Europe. Flowers of the plant provide the perfume essence from which the biologically important sesquiterpenoid farnesol is named.

Scented ointments from Cassie are made in India.

Foliage
The foliage is a significant source of forage in much of its range, with a protein content of around 18%.

Seed pods
The concentration of tannin in the seed pods is about 23%.

Seeds….
The seeds of V. farnesiana are completely non-toxic to humans and are a valuable food source for people throughout the plant’s range. The ripe seeds are put through a press to make oil for cooking. Nonetheless an anecdotal report has been made that in Brazil some people use the seeds of V. farnesiana to eliminate rabid dogs. This is attributed to an unnamed toxic alkaloid.

Forage
The tree makes good forage for bees.

Dyes and Inks
A black pigment is extracted from the bark and fruit.

Perfume
Acaci farnesiana flowers are distilled in the south of France to make an essential oil called Cassie which is used as a basis for aromatherapy and perfume.[14]

You may click to know more :

Known Hazards: The seeds, containing an unnamed alkaloid, are used to kill rabid dogs in Brazil

Resources:

Click to access Acacia%20farnesiana.pdf

http://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachellia_farnesiana
http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acacia%20farnesiana

Tags Acacia, Acacia farinosa, Acacia tetragonophylla, Australia, Biology, Cashaw, Flora and Fauna, Magnoliopsida, Mimosaceae, PH, Plantae, University of Florida, Vachellia farnesiana, Vachellia farnesiana var. farnesiana

Herbs & Plants

Latakasturi

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Botanical Name : Abelmoscnus moschatus Medic
Family :Malvaceae
Genus : Abelmoschus

Species : moschatus

Kingdom: Plantae

Division : Magnolophyta

Class :Magnoliopsida

order : Malvales

Common Names:
•English : Musk mallow, Ambrette seed Plant
•Hindi : Latakasturi, Maskdana
•Kannada : Kadukasturi
•Malayalam : Latakasuri Kattukasturi, Kasturiveta
•Sanskrit : Latakasturika
•Tamil : Vattrilaikkasturi, Kattukkasturi
•Telugu : Kasturibendavittu

Habitat :
This species is native to the old world tropics, globally distributed in the Paleotropics. Within India, it is found throughout Peninsular India and in Himalayan foothills. It is cultivated in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh & Bangladesh.

Description:
An erect hirsute or hispid annual herb, 60 – 180 cm in height; leaves simple, of varying shapes, usually palmately 3-7 lobed, lobes narrow-acute or oblong-ovate, crenate, serrate or irregularly toothed, hairy on both surfaces: flowers large, yellow with purple centre; fruits fulvous-hairy, capsular: seeds many, subreniform, black or grayish brown, scented.

You may click to see the pictures of Latakasturi

Chemical Constituents:
-D-glucoside, myricetin b-Sitosterol and its b and its glucoside obtained from leaves and petals; dry fruit husk yielded only -sitosterol b

Medicinal Uses:
Used In Ayurveda, Folk and Unani for treating different diseases like the following:.
*Tastelessness
*Mouth related ailments
*Indigestion
*Loss of appetite
*Diarrhea
*Cough, cold and asthma
*Dysurea
*Gonorrhea
*Decreased sperm count
*Erectile dysfunction
*Eyes related ailments

Powder of seeds is being used in ailments related to oral cavity, digestion and diarrhea. It is also used in heart related problems, respiratory troubles and asthma. It is used in urine related problems and diseases like gonorrhea. It works as aphrodisiac agent also. Powder is also being used in eye related troubles

Lata kasturi is kapha and pitta suppressant. It helps in purification of the mouth and improves taste of the mouth. It improves digestive activities in the body. It is effective in diarrhea. It helps in heart muscles toning. Respiration system is also checked by it and helps in expelling out the extra amount of mucus in the tract. It also helps in checking out the urinary tract and its related ailments. It is widely used as aphrodisiac agents it improves sperm counts and erectile dysfunction.

According to ayurveda it contains
•Gunna (properties) – ruksh (dry), tikshan (sharp) and laghu (light)
•Rasa (taste) – tickt (bitter), katu (pungent) and madhur (sweet)
•Virya (potency) – sheet (cold)

You may click to see :
Abelmoschus moschatus (Malvaceae), an aromatic plant, suitable for medical or food uses to improve insulin sensitivity.:

Resources:
http://www.ayushveda.com/herbs/abelmoschus-moschatus.htm
http://envis.frlht.org.in/botanical_search.php?txtbtname=&gesp=7%7CAbelmoschus+moschatus+MEDIK.
http://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp
http://www.ishanherbotechorganic.com/herbsbybotanical.html
http://plants.jstor.org/visual/pdig00001725

Tags Ayurveda, Beta-Sitosterol, Diarrhea, Health, India, Leaf, Magnoliopsida, Maharashtra, Malvaceae, Seed, Unani, Uttar Pradesh

Herbs & Plants

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum – L.)

Post author By Mukul
Post date January 21, 2010
No Comments on Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum – L.)

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Botanical Name :Acer saccharinum – L.
Family : Aceraceae
Common name: silver maple
Synonyms: A. saccharinum var. laciniatum, A. saccharinum var. wieri, A. dasycarpum, Argentacer saccharinum
Genus : Acer
Règne : sion Magnoliophyta
Classe : Magnoliopsida
Sous-classe : Rosidae
Ordre : Sapindales
Habitat : Eastern N. America – New Brunswick to Florida, west to Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Banks of rivers, usually in sandy soils. Trees are occasionally found in deep often submerged swamps.Woodland Garden; Canopy;

Description:–
It is a perennial deciduous tree growing to 20 m (65 ft) tall and 60 cm (2 ft) diameter, usually with a short thick trunk. Bark gray and thin, becoming furrowed into long shaggy scaly ridges on older trunks and branches. Twigs long, light green to brown, glabrous, with small reddish blunt buds. Leaves opposite, long-petioled, blades 7.5-13 cm (3-5 in) long and usually about as wide, deeply 5-lobed with 5 main veins from base, doubly serrate, dull green and glabrous above, silvery white below, turning yellow in fall. Flowers crowded in clusters along twigs in late winter or early spring, usually greenish or yellow from reddish buds, about 6 mm (0.25 in) long. Fruits light brown paired samaras 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 in) long maturing in late spring.
CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES
It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen from April to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.

Cultivation :-
Of easy cultivation, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil but does well in much wetter soils than most member of the genus. Succeeds in most soils including chalk . Another report says that this species is liable to become chlorotic as a result of iron deficiency when it is grown on alkaline soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moderately sunny position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution. Fairly wind-tolerant. The wood is brittle and branches are liable to break off the tree in high winds. Trees can tolerate short periods of flooding, but are very susceptible to fire. A very ornamental and fast growing tree , but it is short-lived, seldom surviving longer than 125 – 140 years. The tree has invasive roots and these often interfere with sewer pipes and drainage tiles around houses. The silver maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants.

Propagation:-
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in the spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates immediately and by the end of summer has formed a small tree with several pairs of leaves. Stored seed quickly loses its viability. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 – 4 months at 1 – 8°c. It can be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions. Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus. Cuttings of young shoots in June or July. The cuttings should have 2 – 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter.

Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Inner bark; Leaves; Sap; Seed.
Edible Uses: Sweetener.
The sap contains sugar and can be used as a drink or be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The yield is only half that of A. saccharum. It is said to be sweeter and whiter than A. saccharum. The sap can be harvested in the late winter, the flow is best on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates. Self-sown seedlings, gathered in early spring, are eaten fresh or dried for later use. Seeds – cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds boiled then eaten hot. Good crops are produced nearly every year in the wild. The seed is about 12mm long and is produced in small clusters. Inner bark – cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread.

Medicinal Uses:-
Antispasmodic; Astringent; Ophthalmic; Skin; VD.
An infusion of the bark is used in the treatment of coughs, cramps and dysentery. The infusion is also applied externally to old, stubborn running sores. A compound infusion is used in the treatment of ‘female complaints’. The inner bark is boiled and used with water as a wash for sore eyes. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea. An infusion of the root bark has been used in the treatment of gonorrhea.

Other Uses
Dye; Preservative; Rust; Shelterbelt; Wood.

The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them. A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings. The branches are rather brittle, however, and can break off even in minor storms. The stems are used in making baskets. The boiled inner bark yields a brown dye. Mixed with lead sulphate this produces a blue/black dye which can also be used as an ink. A black dye is obtained from the twigs and bark. The bark can be boiled, along with hemlock (Tsuga spp]) and swamp oak bark (Quercus bicolor) to make a wash to remove rust from iron and steel, and to prevent further rusting. Wood – rather brittle, close-grained, hard, strong, easily worked but not durable. It weighs 32lb per cubic metre. It has many uses such as veneer, cooperage, furniture, flooring and pulp.

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.

Resource:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Acer+saccharinum
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACSA2&photoID=acsa2_002_ahp.tif
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/acsa2.htm