Practical
Plants

Lyonia ovalifolia

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Lyonia genus in the family Ericaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Lyonia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
2 m
Spread
2 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 young leaves and buds are toxic, but they are used externally as an infusion to treat skin diseases and external parasites[7][8].

Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

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

The leaves have insecticidal properties and can also be used to treat skin diseases of a parasitic origin[2][3]. Wood - soft according to one report[2], hard according to another[3], even-grained, moderately compact, not durable, warps and shrinks badly during seasoning. It is used as a fuel, though is not a very good fuel[3][8], and as a charcoal[3]. It can also be used in turning if it is properly seasoned[2].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.
Habitat
Common in sunny places on hills, in scrub and on the edges of oak, pine and rhododendron woods[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[6]. 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[6]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Grow in dappled shade in moist humus-rich lime-free soils and mulch annually with leafmould[6]. Requires an acid soil in sun or part shade[4]. Requires a position in shade or semi-shade[5]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c[4], though the Himalayan form of this species is rather tender[1].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  2. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page