Cardiocrinum giganteum

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.

The leaves are used as an external cooling application to alleviate the pains of wounds and bruises^[5]. A paste of the root is applied as a poultice to treat dislocated bones^[8].

Product or use: Poultice

A kind of flute is made from the hollow stems^[8].

Product or use: Musical

Environment

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas from Nepal to Assam and Sikkim.

Habitat

Woodland clearings at an altitude of 1,500 - 2,400 metres and as high as 3,600 metres around Simla^[6].

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 7+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn. The plant has delayed epigeal germination and will often germinate in the spring but can take up to 2 years especially if the seed is stored prior to being sown^[1]. An alternative is to mix the seed with some moist leafmould and seal it in a plastic bag. Keep this at a temperature of 20°c for 3 weeks then pot up any seed that germinates and place the rest in a fridge for 4 - 5 weeks at 3 - 5°c before sowing in a warm place^[2]. Seedlings should be grown on in pots in a shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse for 3 - 4 years before planting them out in their permanent positions^[2]. Bulblets are obtained from the base of the old plant after flowering. Pot up and plant out when well established.

Cultivation

Prefers a moist well-drained position in shade and a soil that is rich in leafmould^[10]^[3]. Requires a deep, very fertile humus-laden soil^[4]. Prefers growing in woodland conditions^[9]^[3]. A monocarpic plant, the bulb takes about 7 years to reach flowering size but then dies after flowering. However, it produces a number of new bulblets at the base and can be propagated by these^[10]^[3]. These bulblets take 3 - 5 years to flower^[3]. The flowers scent the surrounding area with their rich sweet perfume^[6]. When planting, only just cover the bulb with leafmould^[10]. The bulb is very attractive to slugs, mice and voles and may require protection^[3]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits^[4].

References

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

↩

Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

↩1 ↩2

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

↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

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

↩1 ↩2

Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

↩

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

↩1 ↩2

Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/