Practical
Plants

Saururus chinensis

a perennial member of the Saururus genus in the family Saururaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

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.

Antiperiodic, parasiticide[8][3]. The flowers are antimalarial, diuretic, eliminative, laxative and parasiticide[5]. The root is antimalarial, depurative, eliminative and parasiticide[5]. The whole plant is antiphlogistic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge and refrigerant[2][5]. A decoction is used in the treatment of oedema, nephritis-associated oedema, nutritional oedema, inflammatory conditions and calculus of the urinary system, rheumatoid arthritis, boils and abscesses, rashes and fungal infections of the skin[2]. The leaves are used as a poultice to clean abscesses and boils[2][5].

Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Poultice

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Low damp places by water[2]. Wet places, ditches, meadows, riverbanks, streamsides, forests, thickets, roadsides and field margins from near sea level to 1700 metres[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
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 - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in early autumn. Sow stored seed in late winter or early spring. Keep the pots moist by standing them in shallow water[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[1][4]. The plants spread freely and division is possible at almost any time in the growing season. Divisions taken in mid to late summer should be overwintered in pots in a cold frame and then be planted out in late spring. Regular division maintains the vigour of the plant[4].

Cultivation

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

This is a plant for a boggy area of the garden, it is able to withstand temporary flooding[7]. It prefers a loamy soil[1] growing well in pond margins though it spreads vigorously[7]. It can succeed in damp sites in the woodland as well as in the bog garden[4]. Plants are fairly cold tolerant, but are best given a protective mulch in the winter[7].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  7. Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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