Alangium platanifolium
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Alangium genus in the family Alangiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Alangiaceae
- Genus
- Alangium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 3 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked[4].
- Plant part
- Leaves
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 root is used in the treatment of rheumatism and other bone diseases[8].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves and the bark of the root are used as an insecticide[5]. The leaves and stem bark according to another report[8].
- Product or use
- Insecticide
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan.
- Habitat
- Woodland thickets, 1200 - 2100 metres in W. China[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- 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[7].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[7]. Requires full sun and a sheltered position[6][7]. A fairly hardy plant[1], but it does not succeed outdoors at Kew, the soft pithy shoots being cut back by winter cold[3]. It grows well in Gloucestershire[3][6]. This species is closely related to A. chinense[7].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4