Eupatorium japonicum
Pei Lan
a perennial member of the Eupatorium genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Eupatorium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked. Boiled and well seasoned[5]. Root - cooked. It is sometimes eaten for food and is considered beneficial to the circulation[7].
- Plant part
- Root
- 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.
The leaves and stems are anodyne, antibacterial, antiviral, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, nervine and vermifuge[4][7]. They are taken internally in the treatment of indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, feverish colds etc[3][4][9]. In excess the plant causes irritation to the stomach[9]. The leaves and stems are harvested in the summer before the flower buds open, and are dried for later use[9]. The plant contains the essential oil thymol. In large doses this can cause various health problems such as headaches, tinnitus, vertigo, inhibition of respiration and the circulation[4]. Use with caution[4]. The seed is prescribed in China for the '36 diseases of women'[7]. The root is considered to be beneficial to the circulation and a restorative to women after parturition[7]. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[9]. The herbage, soaked in oil, is applied to the hair as a treatment for dandruff[7].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Nervine
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
- Product or use
- Women's complaints
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antidandruff
- Product or use
- Antiviral
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - S. China, Japan.
- Habitat
- Moist grassland along river banks[10].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- 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 - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[2]. Very easy, the clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in ordinary well-drained but moisture retentive garden soil in sun or part shade[6]. A very polymorphic species[11], it is closely related to E. cannabinum[1]. This species is a member of natural moist grassland flora on river banks in the Kanto District of Japan. Due to urbanization of this area, the habitat is now restricted to a very small area, and the species is endangered[10]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
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
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
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00