Epigaea repens
Mayflower
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Epigaea genus in the family Ericaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Flowers - raw. Fragrant, with a spicy slightly acid flavour[1], they are eaten as a wayside nibble or are added to salads[6]. Thirst quenching[4].
- Plant part
- Flowers
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.
Mayflower is rarely used medicinally, even in folk medicine, though it is a strong urinary antiseptic and is one of the most effective remedies for cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, bladder stones and particularly acute catarrhal cystitis[13]. The leaves are astringent, diuretic and tonic[16][17]. An infusion is made from the dried leaves, or a tincture from the fresh leaves[14]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of kidney disorders, stomach aches, bladder disorders etc[10]. It is of special value when the urine contains blood or pus[14]. Use with caution, the plant contains arbutin and, although this is an effective urinary disinfectant, it hydrolyzes to hydroquinone which is toxic[10]. The leaves can be used fresh or can be harvested in the summer and dried for later use[11][13].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be grown for ground cover, they should be spaced about 25cm apart each way and form a carpet of growth[9]. This species is probably not very worthwhile for ground cover in Britain because of its difficulty to cultivate[9].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Florida and west to Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan.
- Habitat
- Damp mossy banks in sandy and peaty woods and clearings[15][13], usually under pine trees[14].
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 2+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[8]. Another report says that the seed requires no pre-treatment and can be sown in late winter in a cold frame[3]. Surface sow and place the pot in light shade, do not allow it to dry out[3]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 5 weeks[3]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, pot up the seedlings into individual pots. Be very careful since they strongly resent root disturbance. Grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse and plant them out in their permanent positions in the late spring of their second years growth. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[8].Take the cutting with a part of the previous year's growth[3]. (This report is unclear as to whether it means a heel of older wood or just a small section of older wood[K]) Plants self-layer and can be divided in the spring but this must be done with great care since they deeply resent root disturbance[8].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires an open lime-free humus-rich soil and shade from direct sunlight[2][5][8]. Grows well in the shade of other calcifuge plants such as rhododendrons and also under pine trees[12]. A very cold-hardy plant but it is often excited into premature growth by mild winter weather and is then subject to damage by frost[2]. The flower buds require a period of chilling to about 2°c before they will open[8]. The flowers are deliciously and strongly scented[8] with a rich spicy perfume[12]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[8]. A difficult plant to grow in cultivation[8] and very hard to transplant successfully[5]. Another report says that although the genus is generally difficult to cultivate, this species is relatively easy to grow[7].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202