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Tamus communis
  • Black Bryony

a perennial woody member of the Tamus genus in the family Dioscoreaceae.

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Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    There are no details available for this niche.
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
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    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
Tamus communis has 0 edible uses listed
Tamus communis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The whole plant is poisonous due to its saponin content[1]. Although toxic, saponins are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm. They are also broken down by thorough cooking. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is advisable not to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. The toxic effect of this plant is not caused by saponins, but by calcium oxalate crystals which are found mainly in the fruit[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Young shoots - cooked[3][4][5][2]. A decidedly bitter flavour[1]. An asparagus substitute, it is best if the water is changed once whilst cooking[6]. See notes at top of the page regarding possible toxicity.

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Tamus communis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is antiecchymotic, diuretic, emetic, haemolytic and rubefacient[4][1][7]. Use with caution, the plant is rich in saponins, has a very powerful cathartic affect and ranks as a dangerous irritant poison[4][1]. It is not normally used internally, but the macerated root is applied externally as a poultice to bruises, rheumatic joints etc[4][1]. This should not be done without expert advice since it can cause painful blisters[7]. The root is used fresh[7] or can be harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[1].

Unknown part

Antiecchymotic
Cathartic
Diuretic
Emetic
Haemolytic
Poultice
Rubefacient

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in a cold frame in early spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in the autumn. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle, and plant out in the summer or in late spring of the following year.

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



Cultivation

Requires a moist well-drained fertile soil[8].

A climbing plant, the weak stems support themselves by twining around other plants and are capable of growing quite high up into shrubs and trees[4].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Tamus communis. 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 Tamus communis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Tamus communis
Genus
Tamus
Family
Dioscoreaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][2][1][6]
Medicinal uses
[4][1][7]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[8]
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
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Climber
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
moderate
Mature Size
3.5 x meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Bees, Flies
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious

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"image:Tamus communis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Tamus communis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Tamus communis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Tamus communis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

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"image:Tamus communis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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Facts about "Tamus communis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyDioscoreaceae +
Belongs to genusTamus +
Has common nameBlack Bryony +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partLeaves +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile +, Bee + and Flies +
Has flowers of typeDioecious +
Has growth rateModerate +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has imageTamus communis0.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height3.5 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntiecchymotic +, Cathartic +, Diuretic +, Emetic +, Haemolytic +, Poultice + and Rubefacient +
Has primary imageTamus communis0.jpg +
Has search nametamus communis + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameTamus communis +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheClimber +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +