Chrysosplenium carnosum
a perennial member of the Chrysosplenium genus in the family Saxifragaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus
- Chrysosplenium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.1 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Beetles, Flies, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Beetles, Flies, Self
Uses
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 entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, where it is considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[2]. Anti-inflammatory, cholagogue and febrifuge, it is used in the treatment of headaches and inflammation of the gall bladder[2].
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Sikkim.
- Habitat
- Found at elevations of 4,200 - 4,500 metres, often near the line of perpetual snow. Alpine scrub meadows and alpine rock clefts at elevations of 4400 - 4700 metres in western China[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, 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 or autumn in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame. Stand the pot in 2cm of water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a tray of water in the 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. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following 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 outdoors in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most areas of the country. A low-growing plant, spreading by means of stolons produced in the leaf axils to produce a carpet of growth[3]. It is perhaps no more than an extreme form of C. alternifolium. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus[K]. Succeeds in most soils if they are moist. Requires a constantly wet but well-drained soil[1]. Prefers acid soils[1]. Prefers a shady position, succeeding in woodland.
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/