Practical
Plants

Lithospermum erythrorhizon

a perennial member of the Lithospermum genus in the family Boraginaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.7 m
Spread
0.3 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.

All parts of the plant are antitumor, cardiotonic, contraceptive, depurative and febrifuge[2][3][4][7][8]. It is used internally in the treatment of irritant skin conditions, measles, chicken pox, boils, carbuncles, hepatitis and skin cancer[8]. Externally it is used to treat nappy rash, burns, cuts, wounds, abscesses, eczema and haemorrhoids[2][3][4][7][8]. The plant is an ingredient of commercial skin care creams[8]. The plants are harvested when in flower, the roots in the autumn[8]. They are dried for later use[8].

Product or use
Antitumor
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Salve

Material uses

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

A purple dye is obtained from the root[10][12][7]. It is harvested in the spring[5]. It is much liked but the colour is fugitive and production costs high[3].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Eastern China, Japan and Korea.
Habitat
Grassy slopes in mountains and hills all over Japan[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. 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. Division in the autumn[8].

Cultivation

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

Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained soil[1][6]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil and also succeeds in partial shade[8]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[8]. This species is cultivated in Japan[10] (as a dye plant?).

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  9. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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