Practical
Plants

Bryonia dioica

Red Bryony

a perennial woody member of the Bryonia genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Bryonia
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
3.5 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

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.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[16][15]. One report says it is very toxic[2], another says it is of very low toxicity[17]. The fresh root is a severe skin irritant[10].

Edible uses

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

Young shoots - must be cooked[7][3]. They are eaten in spring. Caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above regarding toxicity.

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.

A powerful cathartic and purgative, bryony is used with great caution in present-day herbalism[11]. It is primarily prescribed for painful rheumatic conditions[11]. The root is cathartic, cytotoxic, diaphoretic, expectorant, hydrogogue, irritant, pectoral, purgative and vermifuge[13][18][6][9][14][4]. It is used in small quantities internally in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, bronchial complaints, asthma, intestinal ulcers, hypertension and arthritis[10]. Externally, it is applied as a rubefacient to muscular and joint pains and pleurisy[10]. The root, which can be 75cm long and 75mm thick[12], can be used fresh at any time of the year[16], it can also be harvested in the autumn and be dried for later use[13]. This plant should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. See the notes above on toxicity. The whole herb has an antiviral effect[11].

Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Cytotoxic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hydrogogue
Product or use
Irritant
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Vermifuge

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Central and southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat
Scrub and woodland, especially on well-drained soils, avoiding acid soils[16][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
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 as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. 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, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring.

Cultivation

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

A rapid grower, it is of easy cultivation succeeding in most soils that are well drained[1], avoiding acid soils in the wild[5]. Prefers a sunny position[10]. A very deep-rooted climbing plant[16], attaching itself to other plants by means of tendrils[13]. The plant is not eaten by rabbits[5]. Plants can be easily encouraged by scattering ripe seed along the base of hedgerows[8]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[8].

References

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

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  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

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

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

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  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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  15. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  16. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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  18. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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