Sophora flavescens
Ku Shen
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Sophora genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Sophora
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Spread
- 1 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.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant contains cytosine, which resembles nicotine and is similarly toxic[11]. The plant is poisonous when used in quantity[15][3].
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 root is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antipruritic, astringent, bitter, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, parasiticide, pectoral, stomachic and tonic[14][2][3][4][5][8][12]. It is used internally in the treatment of jaundice, dysentery, diarrhoea and urinary infections[11]. It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of vaginitis, eczema, pruritis, ringworm, leprosy, syphilis, scabies and itching allergic reactions[11]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[11]. The plant is anthelmintic and diuretic[8]. It also has antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Trichomonas vaginitis[4][8].
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antifungal
- Product or use
- Antipruritic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Bitter
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Parasiticide
- Product or use
- Pectoral
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is a source of an insecticide and parasiticide[15][4]. No further details.
- Product or use
- Insecticide
- Product or use
- Parasiticide
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Russia to China.
- Habitat
- Scrub on mountain slopes, river valleys[15], especially on sandy soils[1]. Grassy places in lowland and waste ground, C. and S. Japan[13].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- 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 sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[7]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[16]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[1]. Air-layering[7].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[7]. Requires the protection of a sunny wall if it is to flower[6], and succeeds only in the mildest areas of the country. It grows best in the warmer areas of the country where the wood will be more readily ripened and better able to withstand winter cold[9]. Although hardy to at least -15°c[11], this species does not do very well in the relatively cool summers of Britain, the plant gradually weakens and eventually succumbs[1]. It can be grown in the milder areas of the country and be treated like a herbaceous perennial, growing afresh from the base each spring[10]. An important medicinal herb in China[14]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[9]. A polymorphic species[13]. The flowers are produced on the current years growth[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[7].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
? 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
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
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
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
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
Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00