Phytolacca esculenta
a perennial member of the Phytolacca genus in the family Phytolaccaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Phytolaccaceae
- Genus
- Phytolacca
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
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 leaves are poisonous[3]. They are said to be alright to eat when young, the toxins developing as they grow older.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - they must be cooked and are used as a spinach[1][12][2][4][6]. Only the young leaves should be used since they become toxic with age. Root - cooked[2][6].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
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 roots contain saponins[10]. They are abortifacient, antiasthmatic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antiphlogistic, antitussive, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive and purgative[3][4][5][10]. A decoction is used in the treatment of oedema, beri-beri, lumbago, rheumatism, abdominal distension and numbness of the throat[3][5][10]. Use with caution, see the notes above on toxicity[5].
- Product or use
- Antiasthmatic
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antifungal
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Antitussive
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Hypotensive
- Product or use
- Purgative
- Product or use
- Abortifacient
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A red ink is obtained from the fruit[11].
- Product or use
- Ink
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Valleys, hillsides, forest understories, forest margins and roadsides at elevations of 500 - 3400 metres[9]. It is also found in cultivated land houses, moist fertile lands and as a weed[9].
- 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 autumn or spring in a cold frame[7]. 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. If you have sufficient seed, it might be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in a seed bed in early spring. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for their first year and plant them out the following spring. Division in March or October. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, making sure that each section has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils[1], though preferring a moisture retentive soil in full sun or partial shade[7]. We have found the plants to be very tolerant of drought[K]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[8]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. There is sme disagreement over the correct name for this species with some authorities saying that it is no more than a synonym for P. acinosa[9], whilst others give it specific status[7]. There are reports that there is a white flowered plant, which could either be this species or a form of P. acinosa which is said to be non-toxic and to have an edible root[K]. See P. acinosa for more details. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00