Eucommia ulmoides
Gutta-Percha
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Eucommia genus in the family Eucommiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Eucommiaceae
- Genus
- Eucommia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 12 m
- Spread
- 8 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves[7]. No further details are given.
- 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.
Gutta-percha, known as Du Zhong in China, is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[9]. It is considered to be an excellent tonic for the kidneys and liver, and is thought to act specifically on the lower part of the body[10]. Much interest has been aroused by Du Zhong's ability to reduce high blood pressure. In a clinical trial involving 119 people, 46% of those treated with the herb showed a significant reduction in blood pressure[10]. However, it seems to have little effect in cases of severe hypertension[10]. The stem bark is analgesic, anticholesterolemic, aphrodisiac, depurative, diuretic, hepatic, hypotensive, sedative, tonic and vasodilator[2][13][4][6][7][9][12]. Its use lowers blood pressure (the stir-fried bark is stronger than raw and a decoction is stronger than a tincture) and reduces the absorption of cholesterol[6]. It is used in the treatment of impotence, frequent urination, lumbago, weakness of the lower part of the body, aching back and knees, hypertension and threatened abortion[6][10]. The flowers and the fruit are astringent[9].
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Aphrodisiac
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Hepatic
- Product or use
- Hypotensive
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vasodilator
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A rubber is obtained from the sap, but not in commercially viable quantities[2][13][14]. The leaves contain 3% dry weight of gutta-percha, a non-elastic rubber, used for insulation of electrical wires etc[15]. The gutta-percha is found in all parts of the tree and is extracted by alcohol[14][5]. The wood is used for making Pattens (a type of shoe with raised soles)[7].
- Product or use
- Latex
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Mountainous regions[15]. Lower mountains, valleys or sparsely forests at elevations of 300 - 500 metres in Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- 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 cold frame. Stratify stored seed for 3 months at 2°c[3]. Germination is usually good and takes place in the first spring[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in any well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds[8]. Prefers a good loamy soil[2]. A fast growing[1] and very cold-tolerant tree, withstanding temperatures down to about -20°c[15]. Trees are commonly cultivated in Russia and China, both for gutta percha and for the medicinal used of the stembark[2][9]. By using different solvents it is possible to obtain both of these products and the residue is then used for energy production[9]. This species is the only hardy rubber tree that can be grown outdoors in Britain[2]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
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
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
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
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
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
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00