Practical
Plants

Parthenium integrifolium

Wild Quinine

a perennial member of the Parthenium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 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.

The plant can cause dermatitis or allergies in sensitive people[3].

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.

A poultice made from the fresh leaves is applied to burns[3][5]. The root is used in the treatment of inflammation of the urinary passages and kidneys, amenorrhoea and as a lithontripic[2][3]. The flowering tops are used as a substitute for quinine in the treatment of intermittent fevers[2][3]. One study suggests that use of the plant might stimulate the immune system[3].

Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Poultice

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maryland to Minnesota and Georgia, as far west as Wisconsin and Arkansas.
Habitat
Prairies, rock outcrops and roadsides[3] in arid and semi-arid environments[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. 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 spring.

Cultivation

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

Requires a position in full sun in a well-drained soil[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  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. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. 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

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

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