Practical
Plants

Asclepias tuberosa

Pleurisy Root

a perennial member of the Asclepias genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.75 m
Spread
0.45 m
Fertility
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Insects, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Although no specific reports have been seen for this species, many, if not all, members of this genus contain toxic resinoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides[22]. They are usually avoided by grazing animals[22]. The plant is poisonous if eaten in large quantities[11][28]. Very large doses can cause diarrhoea and vomiting[21].

Edible uses

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

Whilst most parts of this plant have been used as food, some caution is advised since large doses can cause diarrhoea and vomiting - see the notes above on toxicity. Flower buds - cooked. They taste somewhat like peas[29]. Young shoots - cooked. An asparagus substitute[10][23][25][29][8]. The tips of older shoots are cooked like spinach[29]. Young seed pods - cooked. Harvested when 3 - 4 cm long and before the seed floss begins to form, they are very appetizing[10][23][14][27][29]. The flower clusters can be boiled down to make a sugary syrup[10][23][29][8]. In hot weather the flowers produce so much nectar that it crystallises out into small lumps which can be eaten like sweets, they are delicious[K]. Root - cooked[10][23][25][27][29][2]. A nutty flavour[6]. Some reports say that it is poisonous[8]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[4]. The seed is very small, however, and commercial usage would not be very viable.

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seedpod
Product or use
Sweetener

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.

Pleurisy root is a bitter, nutty-flavoured tonic herb that increases perspiration, relieves spasms and acts as an expectorant[18]. It was much used by the North American Indians and acquired a reputation as a heal-all amongst the earlier white settlers[19][20]. Its main use in present day herbalism is for relieving the pain and inflammation of pleurisy[19]. The root is antispasmodic, carminative, mildly cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, tonic and vasodilator[23][14][25][6]. The root was very popular as a medicinal herb for the treatment of a range of lung diseases, it was considered especially useful as an expectorant[23][15][19]. It has never been scientifically examined and warrants further investigation[15]. It has also been used internally with great advantage in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, rheumatism etc[23]. Use with caution[14], This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women[18]. See also the notes above on toxicity. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried[18]. A poultice of the dried, powdered roots is used in the treatment of swellings, bruises, wounds, ulcers, lameness etc[16][18][21].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator

Material uses

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

A good quality fibre is obtained from the bark and is used in making twine, cloth etc[4]. It is easily harvested in late autumn after the plant has died down by simply pulling the fibres off the dried stems[7]. The seed floss is used to stuff pillows etc or is mixed with other fibres to make cloth[7]. It is a kapok substitute, used in life jackets or as a stuffing material[7]. Very water repellent. The floss has also been used to mop up oil spills at sea. The plant is a potential source of latex, used for making rubber[26]. This species is the only member of the genus that does not have latex in its sap[15]. The seedpods contain an oil and a wax which are of potential importance. Candle wicks are made from the seed floss. The seed contains up to 21% of a semi-drying oil[4].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Latex
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Pollution
Product or use
Stuffing

Environment

Range
N. America - S. Ontario and New York to Minnesota, south to Florida and Colorado.
Habitat
Dry open sandy and gravelly soils and grassy places by the sides of roads[24][9][21].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in late winter[5][7]. We have also had good results from sowing the seed in the greenhouse in early spring[K], though stored seed might need 2 - 3 weeks cold stratification[5]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 3 months at 18°c[5]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out when they are in active growth in late spring or early summer and give them some protection from slugs until they are growing away strongly. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and place them in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly, then plant them out in the summer, giving them some protection from slugs until they are established.. Basal cuttings in late spring. Use shoots about 10cm long with as much of their white underground stem as possible. Pot them up individually and place them in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are rooting and growing actively. If the plants grow sufficiently, they can be put into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in the greenhouse until the following spring and when they are in active growth plant them out into their permanent positions. Give them some protection from slugs until they are established.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a well-drained light, rich or peaty soil[1][12]. Prefers a sandy soil and a sunny position[3][17]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[18]. Prefers a dry soil[9][18]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[9]. Another report says that this species is only suited to the warmer areas of Britain[17]. A very ornamental plant[1], but it is not easy to establish or to keep in British gardens[17]. Resents root disturbance[23][5], plants should be pot-grown from seed and planted out in their permanent positions when young. Plants are particularly at risk from slugs, however, and some protection will probably be required until the plants are established and also in the spring when the new shoots come into growth[K]. The flower can trap insects between its anther cells, the struggles of the insect in escaping ensure the pollination of the plant[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Whiting. A. G. A Summary of the Literature on Milkweeds (Asclepias spp) and their utilization.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

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

    ↩

  13. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  17. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  19. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  21. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩1↩2

  23. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  24. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  25. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  26. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  27. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  28. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  29. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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