Practical
Plants

Gnaphalium affine

a biennial member of the Gnaphalium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are used in rice dumplings[2]. The plant contains a large amount of carotene[5].

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 whole plant is antiperiodic, antitussive, expectorant and febrifuge[1][3][5]. A decoction is used in the treatment of influenza, sore throat, productive coughing, rheumatoid arthralgia, traumatic injuries, leucorrhoea, seminal emissions, hives and weeping pruritis of the skin[1].

Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The wooly hairs of the dried leaves are used as a tinder[6].

Product or use
Tinder

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, India.
Habitat
Waste ground and cultivated fields in lowland all over Japan[7]. Hillsides and arid ground in China[1].Open places at elevations of 600 - 3500 metres in Nepal[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 late spring in situ and only just cover the seed.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species but it should succeed as a spring-sown annual in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[4].

References

  1. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  5. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  6. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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