This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Chamaelirium luteum
  • Blazing Star

a perennial member of the Chamaelirium genus in the family Melanthiaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Chamaelirium luteum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

This plant is a cardiac toxin in large quantities[1].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Chamaelirium luteum.

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Chamaelirium luteum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Blazing star is a traditional remedy of the North American Indians where it was used mainly as a woman's herb[2]. It is widely used in Western herbal medicine where it is seen as a balancing herb for the female reproductive system and has proved to be a beneficial remedy for menstrual problems and ovarian cysts - it can also be of help in the menopause[2]. The root is adaptogen, diuretic, emetic, uterine tonic and vermifuge[1][3][4][5][6]. Small doses of the dried and powdered root are used[7]. It is employed in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea and leucorrhoea[8] and also for a variety of ailments associated with the male and female reproductive organs[7]. It should be used with caution since an excess causes vomiting[6]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[6].

Unknown part

Adaptogen
Diuretic
Emetic
Tonic
Uterine tonic
Vermifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe just below the surface of a peat/sand mix in pots in a cold frame[9]. Keep cool and moist. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 10°c[9]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in pots plunged in a nursery bed for 1 - 2 years, giving protection from severe weather. Plant out in spring when the plants are large enough[9]. Division.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Chamaelirium luteum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a moist fertile humus-rich acidic soil in sun or light dappled shade[10][11]. Prefers a cool peaty soil[12].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Chamaelirium luteum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Chamaelirium luteum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Chamaelirium luteum
Genus
Chamaelirium
Family
Melanthiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[2][1][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[13][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.5 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. (1990-00-00)
    10. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    12. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    13. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

    "image:Chamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Chamaelirium_luteum&oldid=76134"
    Facts about "Chamaelirium luteum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyMelanthiaceae +
    Belongs to genusChamaelirium +
    Has common nameBlazing Star +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageChamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.5 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAdaptogen +, Diuretic +, Emetic +, Tonic +, Uterine tonic + and Vermifuge +
    Has primary imageChamaelirium luteum - false unicorn - desc-flowering heads closed.jpg +
    Has search namechamaelirium luteum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid + and Acid +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameChamaelirium luteum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +