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Gastrodia elata
  • Tien Ma

a perennial member of the Gastrodia genus in the family Orchidaceae.

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
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent 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
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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
Gastrodia elata has 0 edible uses listed
Gastrodia elata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - raw or roasted[1][2]. Large[2].

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Gastrodia elata.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

This species has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 1,500 years[3]. The root contains a number of phenolic compounds with medicinal actions[4]. It is a sweet, acrid, herb that is analgesic, anticonvulsive, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, sedative and tonic[5][6][7][3][4]. It is used internally in the treatment of convulsive illnesses (such as epilepsy and tetanus), rheumatoid arthritis, vertigo and numbness associated with liver disharmony[3]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[3]. The stem is aphrodisiac and tonic[8].

Unknown part

Analgesic
Antispasmodic
Aphrodisiac
Carminative
Cholagogue
Sedative
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, into the plants natural habitat near existing colonies, or onto a bed of Quercus wood inoculated with the fungus Armillaria mellea (introduce this fungus into your land with extreme caution since it kills trees and there is no known preventative[K]). The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant. Division in autumn. The plant is very intolerant of root disturbance, any moving or dividing should be attempted in the autumn, keep a large ball of soil around the plant[9].

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



Cultivation

A saprophytic herb, it is without green parts and is entirely dependant upon a fungus for its nutriment[3]. This makes it very difficult to cultivate outside its native range. As well as its fungal host, it also requires a damp humus-rich soil in a sheltered woodland position[3].

The plants are very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c[3]. This plant is becoming increasingly rare in the wild, due to over-collection as a medicinal plant[3]. Methods of cultivating it have now been devised in China[3].

Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Gastrodia elata. 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 Gastrodia elata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Gastrodia elata
Genus
Gastrodia
Family
Orchidaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[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
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
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
    1 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Gastrodia_elata_2.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Gastrodia_elata_2.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.83.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila ISBN 92 9061 120 0 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    6. ? 6.06.1 Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants. ()
    7. ? 7.07.1 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? Cribb. P. & Bailes. C. Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse. Christopher Helm. London. ISBN 0 7470 0416 1 (1989-00-00)
    11. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Gastrodia_elata&oldid=77430"
    Facts about "Gastrodia elata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyOrchidaceae +
    Belongs to genusGastrodia +
    Has binomial nameGastrodia elata +
    Has common nameTien Ma +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageGastrodia elata 2.JPG +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnalgesic +, Antispasmodic +, Aphrodisiac +, Carminative +, Cholagogue +, Sedative + and Tonic +
    Has primary imageGastrodia_elata_2.JPG +
    Has search namegastrodia elata + and tien ma +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferencePartial sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameGastrodia elata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata +, Gastrodia elata + and Gastrodia elata +