Fabiana imbricata
Pichi
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Fabiana genus in the family Solanaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Genus
- Fabiana
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 2.5 m
- Spread
- 2.5 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
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 dried leaves and twigs are cholagogue, a valuable terebinthic diuretic and tonic[2].It is largely used in the treatment of acute urinary bladder catarrh, giving very favourable results where urinary irritation where irritation is caused by gravel[2]. It is contra-indicated where there is organic disease of the kidneys[2].
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- S. America - Chile.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy
- 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 in a well-drained sandy soil in the greenhouse[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Greenwood cuttings, rooted with gentle bottom heat, summer in a cold frame[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[1]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, growing best in areas that receive little or no frost[1]. The cultivar 'Violacea' is generally faster growing and is somewhat hardier than the type, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[1].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9