Practical
Plants

Alangium chinense

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Alangium genus in the family Alangiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
8 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

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.

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[4]. The roots and the stems are a blood tonic, carminative and contraceptive[2]. They are used in the treatment of rheumatism, numbness, traumatic injuries, wounds and snakebites[2]. A decoction of the leafy shoots is said to be tonic[4]. A paste of the roots is applied to the area around dislocated bones to help them setting[6]. The shoot, rootbark and whole plant are all used medicinally[4].

Product or use
Blood tonic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Contraceptive

Material uses

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

An oil extracted from the seeds is used for lighting lamps[6].

Product or use
Oil

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - India to C. China
Habitat
Upland thickets in W. China[2]. Open places around villages at elevations of 300 - 2400 metres in Nepal[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[3].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[3]. Requires full sun and a sheltered position[3]. Not very frost tolerant[3], this species is likely to be on the borderlines of hardiness even if obtained from its higher provenances[1]. However, although the top growth will be killed back in all but the mildest winters, the plant will usually resprout from the base in the spring and will usually flower in the summer[5]. These flowers are sweetly scented[5]. This species is closely related to A. platinifolium[3]. Although a fair sized tree in its native habitat, it is unlikely to make more than a shrub more than 2 metres tall in Britain[5]. It does not require pruning[5].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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