Practical
Plants

Daphne mezereum

Mezereon

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Daphne genus in the family Thymelaeaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Daphne
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
1.5 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Self

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 highly toxic[22][2][10][21]. Skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in some people[21][11].

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.

Mezereum has been used in the past for treating rheumatism and indolent ulcers, but because of its toxic nature it is no longer considered to be safe[13]. The plant contains various toxic compounds, including daphnetoxin and mezerein, and these are currently being investigated (1995) for their anti-leukaemia effects[13][15]. The bark is cathartic, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, stimulant and vesicant[18][22][24][12][19]. The root bark is the most active medically, but the stem bark is also used[18]. It has been used in an ointment to induce discharge in indolent ulcers[18] and also has a beneficial effect upon rheumatic joints[15]. The bark is not usually taken internally and even when used externally this should be done with extreme caution and not applied if the skin is broken[18][12][15]. The bark is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[22]. The fruits have sometimes been used as a purgative[18]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[22]. It is used in the treatment of various skin complaints and inflammations[22][24].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Vesicant

Material uses

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

A yellow to greenish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, fruit and bark[5]. The seed contains up to 31% of a fatty oil[23]. No further details are given.

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia to Spain, east to Macedonia and temperate Asia.
Habitat
Damp deciduous mixed woodlands and on rich calcareous soils[22][7][16].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy 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 - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe with the pot sealed in a polythene bag to hold in the moisture. Remove this bag as soon as germination takes place[6]. The seed usually germinates better if it is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it dries on the plant) and sown immediately. Germination should normally take place by spring, though it sometimes takes a further year. Stored seed is more problematic. It should be warm stratified for 8 - 12 weeks at 20°c followed by 12 - 14 weeks at 3°c. Germination may still take another 12 months or more at 15°c[6]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Layering.

Cultivation

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

A good sandy loam suits most members of this genus[4]. Prefers a good heavy soil and some shade[17][20]. Prefers a calcareous soil[5][7][10] and cool moist conditions[4][20]. There is no evidence to suggest it requires a calcareous soil, but all members of this genus do well on acid soils[4]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -30°c[8]. Plants tend to be short-lived in cultivation, probably due to excessive seed bearing[4][11]. Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible[9]. They also resent being cut and so should not be pruned unless it is essential[14]. A good bee plant, providing a source of nectar very early in the year[3]. The flowers have a delicious sweet perfume[14].

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. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  6. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  9. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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  17. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

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  20. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  23. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2

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