Practical
Plants

Prinsepia utilis

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Prinsepia genus in the family Rosaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3.5 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[1][12][8][10]. Liked by children[16]. Sloe-like[6], it has rather an astringent flavour[K]. The fruit is up to 17mm long and contains a single large seed[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[12][17][2][6]. It is used in cooking[10][16].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Oil

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.

An oil from the seed is rubefacient[14]. It is applied externally as a treatment for rheumatism and muscular pain caused by hard work[14]. The oil is also applied to the forehead and temples in the treatment of coughs and colds[16]. The heated oilcake is applied as a poultice to the abdomen in the treatment of stomachaches[16]. A paste of this seedcake is used as a poultice to treat ringworm or eczema[16]. The fruit is used in Chinese medicine[5]. We have no more details.

Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Rubefacient
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

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

The seed contains 21% of a fatty oil[14]. As well as being edible, it can also be used for lighting[12][6][7][16]. The oilcake is used for washing clothes[16]. A deep purple colour btained from the fruits is used for painting windows and walls[16]. Plants are grown as a hedge in the Himalayas[1][16]. Plants have an extensive root system and are used for binding the soil[16]. Wood - very hard, compact, very liable to split[7].

Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood
Product or use
Paint

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from Pakistan to W. China.
Habitat
Forest, scrub and hedges, 1200 - 2700 metres[17]. Usually found in sunny open places on dry hillsides near any spring or water-course[6][7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best if given 2 months cold stratification[4]. Sow the seed in autumn if possible, otherwise in late winter or early spring in a cold frame in light shade. Germination may be inhibited by light[4]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[13]. Requires a light not too fertile soil[3]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c[11]. The plants produce flowers and fruits better when they are growing in full sun[13]. Flowers are produced on the previous seasons wood[13] and can be produced in the autumn as well as the spring. The flowers are produced on the current years wood according to another report[9]. Autumn flowers can produce ripe fruit in the following spring. Unfortunately, the plants only produce fruit in Britain after long hot summers[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. ? Alpine Garden Society Bulletin. Volume 56. Alpine Garden Society

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  17. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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