Dendranthema indicum
Chrysanthemum
a perennial member of the Dendranthema genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Dendranthema
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The flower heads are pickled in vinegar[16][18][7][9]. Young leaves - cooked[2][7][9]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[9]. Seed[9]. No more details are given but it is very small and would be rather fiddly to use.
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Tea
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 antiphlogistic, blood tonic, depurative, febrifuge and vulnerary[3][5][8]. The plant is used in China to treat eye ailments[11]. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[12]. The leaves are depurative[12]. They are used in China in the treatment of migraine[12]. The flowers are aperient, bitter, hypotensive, stomachic and vasodilator[6][12]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus, E. coli, streptococcus, C. diphtheriae, Bacillus dysenteriae[6]. The flowers are used in the treatment of furuncle, scrofula, deep-rooted boils, inflammation of the throat, eyes and cervix, eczema, itchiness of the skin and hypertension[6]. An essential oil obtained from the plant contains chrysanthenone, this is active on the brain centre affected by Parkinson's disease[12].
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Aperient
- Product or use
- Bitter
- Product or use
- Blood tonic
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- VD
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed contains about 16% of a semi-drying oil, but no information is given as to its uses[12]. The seed is rather small, commercial extraction is probably not viable[K].
- Product or use
- Oil
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Eastern China, Central and Southern Japan.
- Habitat
- Found wild in most habitats[3]. Grasslands on mountain slopes, thickets, wet places by rivers, fields, roadsides, saline places by seashores, under shrubs 100 - 2900 m. Nearly throughout China[15].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- 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 to early summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[10]. It usually germinates in 10 - 18 days at 15°c but if it does not germinate within 4 weeks then try chilling the seed for 3 weeks in the salad compartment of a fridge[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most well-drained fertile soils in a sunny position[1][10]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c and should succeed outdoors in most parts of Britain[14]. This species is closely related to D. x grandiflorum (the cultivated chrysanthemum) according to one report[17] whilst another says that it is a parent of the cultivated chrysanthemum[1]. It has been proposed (1999) to restore this species to Chrysanthemum as C. indicum L. since the plant is so widely known under this name. When bruised, the foliage has a pungent refreshing fragrance that is somewhat lemon-like and reminiscent of chamomile[13].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
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
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
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
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202