Practical
Plants

Agrimonia pilosa

Hairy Agrimony

a perennial member of the Agrimonia genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked[4]. Seed - dried and ground into a meal[5]. Mixed with noodles[4].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The stems and the leaves are analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, astringent, cardiotonic, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic, taenicide and vasoconstrictor[2][3][7][11]. The plant is used in the treatment of abdominal pain, sore throat, headaches, bloody and mucoid dysentery, bloody and white discharge and heat-stroke[2][10]. It is used in Korea to treat parasitic worms, bois and ezema[11]. The leaves are rich in vitamin K and are used to promote blood clotting and control bleeding[8]. The plant contains agrimonin, this is haemostatic, cardiotonic and lowers blood sugar, though it can also produce palpitations and congestion of the blood in the face[3]. The root ia astringent, diuretic and tonic[10]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, tuberculosis and diarrhoea[10]. The root juice is used in the treatment of peptic ulcer[10]. A paste of the root is used to treat stomach ache[10]. Plants are harvested as they come into flower and can be dried for later use[8].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cardiotonic
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Vasoconstrictor
Product or use
Vermifuge

Environment

Range
E. Europe to E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Meadows and roadsides in lowland and mountains all over Japan[12]. Forest undergrowth and shady places by the sides of roads at elevations of 1000 - 3000 metres in Nepal[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - can be sown in spring or autumn, either in pots in a cold frame or in situ. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 13°c[1], though germination rates can be low, especially if the seed has been stored[9]. A period of cold stratification helps but is not essential. When grown in pots, prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division in autumn[6]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a calcareous soil[6]. Prefers a sunny position[6]. The ssp. A. pilosa japonica. (Miq.)Nakai. is used medicinally in China[3].

References

  1. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  3. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  5. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  9. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  10. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

  12. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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