Practical
Plants

Trilisa odoratissima

Vanilla Plant

a perennial member of the Trilisa genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Trilisa
Life cycle
perennial
Height
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 coumarins[5], this is what gives it the scent of newly mown hay. When used internally, especially from dried plants, it can act to prevent the blood from co-aggulating[2]. Coumarins are implicated in liver disease and haemorrhage[5].

Edible uses

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

The leaves are used as a flavouring[7], they have the scent of vanilla[1][4]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Condiment

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 leaves are demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and tonic[5]. They are a folk remedy for coughs, malaria and neuroses[5]. The leaves are high in coumarins and have been experimentally effective in the treatment of high-protein oedema[5]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Material uses

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

The dried leaves contain coumarin and have a scent like newly mown hay. They can be used as a condiment[3].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida, west to Missouri.
Habitat
Low pinelands[7]. Pine barrens[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[1].

Cultivation

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

Grows well in any moderately good light soil[1]. Plants grow in very acid soils in the wild[6].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  3. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

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

    ↩

  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↩4↩5

  6. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Small. Manual of the Southeastern Flora.

    ↩1↩2

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