Practical
Plants

Melanthium virginicum

Bunchflower

a perennial member of the Melanthium genus in the family Melanthiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.7 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

All parts of the plant are highly toxic[2].

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 root has been used to kill internal parasites[2].

Product or use
Anthelmintic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - New York to Florida, Texas and Indiana.
Habitat
Lowland prairies and moist open woods[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Unless the seed is stored in damp sand at around 4°c it has a short viability[1]. Where possible it is best to sow the seed in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1]. Stored seed needs to be cold stratified but can be very slow to germinate. Germination can be erratic even for seed sown when it was fresh, it usually takes place within 3 - 12 months at 15°c but can be much longer[1]. Sow the seed thinly so that it can be grown on in the pot without disturbance for the first couple of years. Give an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure the plants do not become nutrient deficient. The plant produces just one seed leaf in its first year, this forms an over-wintering bulb. At the end of the second year's growth, pot up the over-wintering bulbs, placing one or two bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame for at least another couple of years before planting them out into their permanent positions. It takes up to 10 years for the plant to reach maturity[1]. Division in March/April or in October. Establish the plants in pots in a shaded frame before planting them out[1]. Root cuttings, 6mm long with a bud, rooted in a sandy soil in a cold frame[1].

Cultivation

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

Requires a deep fertile moisture retentive humus-rich soil[1]. Succeeds in full sun if the soil does not dry out but prefers a position in semi-shade[1]. Dislikes dry soils[4]. Grows best in a cool woodland garden or a north facing border[4]. Succeeds in acid soils in a bog garden[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  3. McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1986-00-00 ISBN 070060295x

    ↩

  4. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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