Polygonum tinctorium
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Polygonum
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.75 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.
Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[10].
Edible uses
Young plant - cooked[2][6]. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
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.
The stems and the leaves are antidote, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antipyretic and depurative[4][5][8][12]. Their use increases the phagocytosis of white blood cells and decreases the permeability of the capillaries[5]. The indigo pigment in the leaves is used[5]. It is used in the treatment of freckles, pimples, erysipelas, mumps, thrush, epidemic protitis, infantile convulsions and high febrile conditions of children[5]. The leaves and fruits are used in Korea to help protect the liver and to treat burns and food poisoning caused by eating fish[12]. The fruits are antidote and febrifuge[8]. The plant is anti-inflammatory[8].
- Product or use
- Antidote
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Antiphlogistic
- Product or use
- Antipyretic
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
Material uses
A blue dye is obtained from the leaves of this plant[13][2][3]. The leaves produce about 4 - 5% indigo by hydrolysis and acidification[15].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- E. Europe to E. Asia.
- Habitat
- Weed infested places[14]. Moist valleys and along streambanks at elevations of 200 - 1000 metres in China[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts.
Cultivation
Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade[7]. Requires full sun and a fertile soil[3]. Prefers hot humid climates[3]. A frost tender plant[3], it can be grown as a half-hardy annual in Britain. This plant used to be cultivated as a dye plant[14][15]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[9].
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
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
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
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00