Practical
Plants

Scrophularia marilandica

Carpenter's Square

a perennial member of the Scrophularia genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

Alterative, appetizer, diaphoretic, vermifuge and vulnerary[11][4]. A tea made from the roots is diuretic, emmenagogue and tonic[5][8]. It has been used in the treatment of irregular menses, fevers and piles[5]. A poultice made from the roots is a folk remedy for cancer[5]. Carpenter's square is said to have similar properties to the knotted figwort, S. nodosa. These properties are:- Knotted figwort is a plant that supports detoxification of the body and it may be used as a treatment for various kinds of skin disorders[7]. The whole plant is alterative, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, mildly purgative and stimulant[9][12][3][1]. It is harvested as the plant comes into flower in the summer and can be dried for later use[9]. A decoction is applied externally to sprains, swellings, burns, inflammations etc, and is said to be useful in treating chronic skin diseases, scrofulous sores and gangrene[9][7]. The leaves can also be applied fresh or be made into an ointment[9]. Internally, the plant is used in the treatment of chronic skin diseases (such as eczema, psoriasis and pruritis), mastitis, swollen lymph nodes and poor circulation[6]. It should not be prescribed for patients with heart conditions[6]. The root is anthelmintic[12].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America from Quebec to Alabama.
Habitat
Rich woods and thickets[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
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 spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most moist soils[2].

References

  1. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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

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  3. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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

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  5. 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

  6. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  7. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

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

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  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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

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  12. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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