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Lygodesmia juncea
  • Skeleton Weed

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

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
  • no shade
    No 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 Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    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
Lygodesmia juncea has 0 edible uses listed
Lygodesmia juncea has 0 material uses listed
Lygodesmia juncea has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

A gum from the seeds is used for chewing[1][2]. Other reports say that the gum is obtained from the flowering stems[3][4]. Another report says that the roots were left in the sun until the gum came out and hardened, and this was then used for chewing[5].

Unknown part

Gum

Material uses

An infusion of the stems, mixed with oil, has been used as a hair tonic[5]. The crushed stems have been used as foot pads in shoes[5].

Unknown part

Hair care
Insulation

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Skeleton weed was employed medicinally by various native North American Indian tribes who used it particularly as a galactogogue[6][5]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.

The leaves and stems are galactogogue and tonic[6][5]. An infusion of the stems has been used to promote milk flow in nursing mothers, in the treatment of smallpox, measles, kidney problems, diarrhoea, heartburn and burning coughs and also as a general tonic for children[5]. A poultice of the plant has been applied to bring relief to rheumatic and swollen joints[5]. An infusion has been used as a wash for sore eyes[5].

An infusion of the powdered galls that are found on the plant is diuretic[5].

Unknown part

Diuretic
Galactogogue
Kidney
Poultice
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. 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 can be tried in the spring.

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



Cultivation

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most areas of the country. It is likely to require a sunny position in a light well-drained soil.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lygodesmia juncea. 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 Lygodesmia juncea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Lygodesmia juncea
Genus
Lygodesmia
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[6][5]
Material uses & Functions
[5]
Botanic
[7][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
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
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
    0.3 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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

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


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


    "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Lygodesmia juncea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.005.015.025.035.045.055.065.075.085.095.105.11 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    7. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    8. ? Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)

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

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Lygodesmia_juncea&oldid=78489"
    Facts about "Lygodesmia juncea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusLygodesmia +
    Has common nameSkeleton Weed +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useGum +
    Has fertility typeInsects +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has imageLygodesmia juncea.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useHair care + and Insulation +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDiuretic +, Galactogogue +, Kidney +, Poultice + and Tonic +
    Has primary imageLygodesmia juncea.jpg +
    Has search namelygodesmia juncea + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameLygodesmia juncea +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +