Frasera caroliniensis
American Columbo
a perennial member of the Frasera genus in the family Gentianaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Genus
- Frasera
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 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 powdered plant is applied externally to ulcers as a poultice[3]. The plant is a feeble simple bitter[3]. The root is cathartic, emetic, stimulant and tonic[7][3][4]. When dried it is a simple bitter that can be used as a digestive tonic in a similar way to gentian root (Gentiana spp), but the fresh root is cathartic and emetic[7]. The root is used in the treatment of dysentery, stomach complaints and a lack of appetite[6]. It should be harvested in the autumn of its second year, or the spring of its third year[7].
- Product or use
- Bitter
- Product or use
- Cathartic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Stimulant
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - New York to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Georgia and Tennessee.
- Habitat
- Dry soils[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 2+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- 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 greenhouse[2]. 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. Division in late winter[2].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a moist but well-drained position and a stony peaty soil[1][2]. Requires an acidic soil[2]. Plants are hardy to at least -12°c[2]. Plants can be grown in a woodland garden[2].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9