Carpesium abrotanoides
a perennial member of the Carpesium genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Carpesium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - cooked[2]. A sweet flavour, though they smell of foxes[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 whole plant is alterative, antiscorbutic, astringent, depurative discutient, emetic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative and vulnerary[1][3][5]. A decoction is used in the treatment of bronchitis, tonsillitis, boils and ulcers and snakebites[1]. The stem juice is used to treat insect bites[5]. This juice is also a very effective remedy for sore throat[5]. A decoction of the fruit is vermifuge[5]. The seed is antiphlogistic, diuretic, laxative, pectoral and vermifuge[5][6]. The seeds are used to expel round worms, tapeworms and pin worms[1]. A 20% concentrate of seed decoction cured 69% of children with worms and effected an improvement in another 19%[5]. The root is diuretic and vermifuge[6].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Antiscorbutic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Pectoral
- Product or use
- Stings
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed has insecticidal properties[3]. Another report says that the plant might have insecticidal properties[5].
- Product or use
- Insecticide
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe to E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Woods all over Japan[8]. Waste places and grassy fields in lowlands, also along forest edges[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs.
References
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
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
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
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
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00