Manilkara zapota - Sapodilla, Chico, Chicle

Polska wersja   

          PLANT PROFILE

   Manilkara zapota is an evergreen tropical tree, famous for its delicious fruits. In the past, it was also popular for its white sap called Chicle, gathered and dried into chewing gum, hence its common name Sapodilla. It was used for this purpose by Aztec, who used it also as a glue and to make modeling figures. But today it is hard to find anywhere, this expensive, traditionally made, original chewing gum. While its commercial successors popular around whole world, are made mostly from synthetic rubber. Also wood from this tree is used commercially, it is very durable and good for furniture and tools production. Sapodilla is probably native to south Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, where it has been cultivated since ancient times. Mayan writings mention about milions of Zapotle trees growing on Mayan civilisation territory. And nowadays it is popular as a fruit tree in nearly whole tropical world and also in subtropical climate regions.
   Manilkara zapota fruits have many different common names in different countries and languages : Sapodilla (English), Zapotilla (Spanish), Chico (Tagalog) - also Chikoo, Chickoo, Chikoo or Chiku, Chicosapote (Guatemala, Mexico, Hawaii), Naseberry (West Indies and some parts of India), Sapodilla Plum (India), Nispero (Mexico, Spanish speaking countries), Sapotilla, Sapote or Sapota ( Brasil), Briapfel (Germany), Sapotille (France), Zapota (Venezuela), Zapote (Cuba, Honduras, El Salvador), Baramasi (Bengal and Bihar, India), Sapeta (Orija), Mispel (Virgin Islands), Sabudheli (Maladives), Saos or Sawo (Indonesia), Lamoot (Thailand), Muy (Guatemala), Muyzapot (El Salvador), Sapojira (Japan), Kkom na mu (Korea), Gudalu (Nepal), Ya (Jucatan), Rata-Mi (Sri Lanka), Hong Xiem (Vietnam) - and these are just some of them. Sometimes synonym of this plant - Achras zapota can be still found in use.

     
 CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

    Sapodilla is rather slow growing, long lived, tough tree, very dense, medium hight and evergreen. It is tropical plant that can easily adapt in not stictly tropical regions as well. Young plants are getting killed by temperatures below 0'C, but older plants can survive frosts to -4'C with only moderate damage. Manilkara zapota thrives in full sun, in rich, acidic, sandy, well drained soil, but will grow in poor soils as well. It tolerates well drought, heat, salinity, and is strongly wind resistant. Sapodilla is very fruit productive, it can yield fruits when it is 5 year old, nearly all year round, with one or two main crops. In India saline water is used for watering, to reduce vegetative growth and promote fruiting. Fruits matures afrter 4 to 8 months from polination. There are quite few varieties with different fruit sizes and shapes ( from 4cm round 'Pineras' to 8cm long, conical 'Ponderosa' ), which might be suitable for different conditions. These are usually propagated by marcotting, but it might be grown from cuttings and seeds as well. Sapodillas milky, gummy sap is gathered by cuttings on its tree trunk, then dried and usually cut into stripes for chewing.


       
         CULINARY USES

    There are different varieties of Sapodilla fruits, and of course taste may vary a bit according to different soil, weather and time of harvest or way of storage. I've been lucky to get these fruits frequently in England (it comes there from Dominican Republic) and now in Philippines, and it taste unlike anything else. Very sweet, soft flesh, inside thin but firm skin, reminds me a bit a taste of fully ripened pear with hint of vanilla and cinnamon. I've been eating many rare fruits in my life and nothing realy tastes like this delicious one. But there is big '' but '' - these fruits are very tender when ripe, so in order to reach markets on distant lands, it have to be picked fairly unripe. Then it is keeping in cold storage and sometimes laying for long time on stalks, being pressed by many hands, checking if it is soft yet. So at the end, if You'll be lucky to find this fruit far from region of origin. It will be not only quite expensive but half of it might be spoiled (with good looking skin but fermented pulp inside) or so unripe, that unable to get ripe even laying on the sun for long time.
    Unripe, hard fruits are very tart and just slightly sweet, but the more ripe they are the more soft and sweet its flesh is. Chico can be eaten raw on its own or added to any kind of desserts, from fruit salads to ice creams and milk shakes. It is turned into jams, syrups, fried or fermented into wine. It also might be blended with egg custard and baked or added to pancake batter. In Indonesia young shoots are eaten raw, after washing sticky sap off or steamed with rice. Sapodillas dried sap called Chicle was chewed by Aztecs and Mayas to quench thirst, and was highly valued by European settlers for its subtle flavor and high sugar content.


         COSMETIC USES

    Chico fruit is rich in vitamin A and promote collagen production, therefore rejuvenate the skin and slow aging process of the skin. Ripe fruit pulp can be applied as face mask.

         MEDICINAL USES

    Chico fruits are easily digestible and calorie rich, contains simple sugars, proteins, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, copper, vitamins A (good for eyes, mucous mambranes and skin), C, B6, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic and malic acids, many phenols, quercitrin and myricitrin. It nourish and revitalizes body, therefore it is recommended for pregnant (helps prevent morning sickness) and lactating women, and people in convalescence. Fully ripe (only!) fruits, deseeded and peeled, are also safe, digestible food for babies and even infants. As it does not couse allergic reactions and support their physical and mental growth. Not entirely ripe fruits contain big amounts of tannins, that are astringent, antioxidant, antviral, antibacterial and antiinflamatory, and are helpfull for indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhage. Also decoction from young fruits is taken for diarrhea. Fully ripe fruits have low content of tannins, concentrated in its peel and next to it. Decoction from young fruits and flowers is good for lungs, especially with pulmonary problems, it is also helpfull expectorant. Sapodilla fruit by its electrolyte content boosts nervous system functions and is prescribed in diet for people who suffer depression, stress, anxiety and insomnia. Its antispasmodic value help in treatment of muscle spasms and pains. Consumption of this fruit is known to effectively lower risk, and inhibit growth of breast and colon cancers.
    Seeds from Sapodilla contain saponins and quercitin, it is tonic, antibacterial, antipyretic, febrifuge and laxative. Paste made from it is applied to stings and venomous bites. Juice from seeds have antihistamine qualities, and is effective drug for anxiety and depression, it is also diuretic, helping remove stones from bladder and kidneys. Eating more than 6 seeds causes abdominal pain and vomiting. As a European who had never been in tropics before, I've caught some nasty infection in the Philippines. First diarrhoea, then headache, muscle pains and slight fever. I've decided to test Chico seeds. I ate two, opening them by cracking its hard shell with teeth, just as you do with sunflower seeds. It was a unique expierience. It has a very intense and hard to describe flavour, with strong bitterness. I chewed it a bit, swallowed, and drank a glass of water. I've felt sudden relief, and none of symptoms had occured again. It's a very potent drug and I strongly advise you to be cautious with it.
    Old, yellowed leaves are used in form of infusion for colds, coughs, flu and diarrhea, externally it is applied on wounds and ulcers, it also have diuretic and hypotensive action. Alcohol extracts of leaves and bark of Manilkara zapota have proven to be highly antioxidant and antibacterial.
    Bark infusion is rich in tannins, have astringent, antibiotic and febrifuge action, and is used for diarrhea, dysentery and malaria. Laboratory studies showed antitumor activity of alcohol extracts from Sapodilla bark.
   The latex is used in tropics as a crude filling for tooth cavities.

 

     

      

 

       

                                                        Manilkara zapota variegata

    Sources

'' Promising Fruits of the Philippines '' - Roberto E. Coronel, 1983 College of Agriculture, University of Philippines at Los Banos, College Laguna Philippines
'' Fruits of the Philippines '' - Dereen G. Fernandez, 1997 Bookmark, Inc.
'' Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, volume 6, Fruits '' - T. K. Lim, 2013 Springer Science and Buissnes Media
'' Tropical Fruits Newsletter'' - Bib. Orton LICA/KATIE
'' Wind in the Blood - Mayan Healing and Chinese Medicine '' - 1999, North Atlantic Books

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicle
http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=7423
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st405
http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Achras_zapota
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sapodilla.html
http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-chikoo-or-chickoo-sapodilla.html
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55935/
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Manilkara_zapota.pdf
http://recipeclout.india-server.com/sapodilla.html
http://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-of-sapodilla-for-babies/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12880319
http://www.sciencepub.net/nature/ns0810/21_3684ns0810_260_266.pdf
http://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/34503/1/PD10010.pdf
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602010000200003&script=sci_arttext
http://ijps.aizeonpublishers.net/content/2013/6/ijps394-397.pdf
http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JSR/article/view/714
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614210/
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-204X2002000400020&script=sci_arttext
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/242014909_New_triterpenoid_acyl_derivatives_and_biological_study_of_Manilkara_zapota_(L.)_Van_Royen_fruits
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614210/
http://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Pak_J_Pharm_Sci/Pak_J_Pharm_Sci_2013_26_4_805_811.pdf

Gleditsia triacanthos and Gleditsia sinensis - Honey Locust and Chinese Honey Locust

Polska wersja

        PLANT PROFILE

  Gleditsia is a legume tree, very characteristic for its turfs of thorns growing straight from the trunk and branches of the tree, but there are thornless cultivars (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) as well. This tree genus can be found as a part of wild flora in many regions of south and east of Asia, both Americas and Africa.
   The two most popular species of Gleditsia worldwide are North American Gleditsia triacanthos L. and Asiatic Gleditsia sinensis Lam. The both species are so closely related and similar that it is hard to distinguish it, except for the seedpods that are thicker in G. sinensis. Both species also cross-pollinate easily creating hybrids, not only between each other but also with other closely related species like : Gleditsia japonica Miq., Gleditsia koraiensis Nakai., Gleditsia macarantha Desf., Gleditsia horrida Willd. and Gleditsia officinalis Hemsl..
   All those Gleditsias have edible seeds and very sweet seedpod pulp, that brought it's common name Honey Locust, and their pods and thorns are used as a traditional medicine. Gleditsia triacanthos is reported to be used traditionally by indigenous Indians but seems to have less significance in American herbal medicine than Gleditsia sinensis have in China (it's thorns are one of 50 fundamental herbs in Tradicional Chinese Medicine). Also Japan, Korea and Vietnam seems to have very long traditions of using Gleditsia as a medicinal herb.
   Gleditsia is sometimes planted in Europe as well as in its homelands, as an ornamental tree, but in some areas of USA and Australia it is considered an invasive weed. Leaves of Gleditsia are turning beautifully golden-yellow before they fall in autumn, but there is cultivar that have yellow leaves straight from spring ( Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' ) and reddish brown ( Gleditsia triacanthos 'Ruby Lace' ).

    CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

   Gleditsia is a fast growing tree up to around 30m h. In its homelands it commonly grow on moist, fertile soils near streams or lakes, but it tolerate well sandy or loamy, dry poor soils with pH  6,0-8,0. It is hardy to -30'C, cope well with salinity of soil and is widely planted for windbreaks and to stop soil erosion. If trimmed it can made a thick impenetrable hedge. Honey Locust tolerate transplantation, droughts, heat and scorching sun, but don't like shade. In late spring male and female flowers appear on separate plants, but some of them might have both sex organs, and they are pollinated by insects. In fall edible seedpods are fully developed. Brown pods are good for medicine and use of beans, but if You want to enjoy its sweet pulp, it should be picked while still green and fleshy. Brown dried pods usually lasts on trees till spring time. There are few similar looking trees with poisonous seedpods, so You better make sure it is the right tree before You'll eat anything.
These pods are also often used as a fodder. Old pods can be used as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Spikes can be collected all year round, but best time for its harvesting is just like for bark, between late fall and early spring. Only still growing, young, reddish-brown or still green thorns should be gathered. Old, dead, gray in color spines are useless.
   Caution is highly advised around thorny Gleditsias, as any twig might cause serious hurt by its thorns. Watch Your steps, stamping on dead branch laying on ground, might cause wounds, made by thorns able to puncture shoe soles.


      COSMETIC USES

   Fully ripe, dried pods, sometimes called Soap Pods, thanks to its saponins content, are boiled and obtained liquid is used as a detergent in many different cultures. In China dried pods are simply powdered and used instead of soap. It was commonly used for at least 2000 years, till 1970, when chemical detergent Tides came from abroad. Vietnamese wild Gleditsia, called Bo ket or Boket (Gleditsia australis F. B. Forbes & Hemsley, Gleditsia fera (Lour.) Merr. in latin ), is traditionally used as a shampoo. Dried pods are slightly roasted, crumbled or grinded, boiled and obtained decoction ( sometimes with grapefruit or lime peel, essential oil or other natural perfume added ) is simply used to rinse hairs. It cures dandruff, head fungi, revitalize sebaceous glands, prevent hair-loss, stimulate hair growth and is giving hairs, smooth and silky appearance . It is also main ingredient in some of commercially produced shampoos for apparently black hairs like My Hao, Dau Goi Bo Ket FRESH or SunSilk Black Silky.

   
                                                                                               CULINARY USES

    Seedpods of Honey Locust have very sweet (with slightly bittery aftertaste), tasty pulp in it when still green and it can be added to any dessert, made into a drink or fermented into alcohol. There are reports that some people are experiencing throat irritation after eating fresh seedpods pulp, that might be caused by its saponins content. Cherokee used powdered pods as a sweetener. Protein rich seeds can be cooked as beans or eaten fresh, especially when they are still green and soft. Fully ripened seeds can be roasted and used as coffee substitute or grounded into gluten-free flour. Young seedpods can be whole cooked and eaten like green beans.
     Gleditsia's shoots has been listed as edible in Jiuhuang Bencao (Chiu Huang Pen Tsao) - 'Famine Relief Herbal'. Written in 1406 by the Ming dynasty prince Zhu Xiao/Su, as a manual for survival during times of famine.
   Even though I've found no reports about usage of thorns from Gleditsia triacanthos like about those from Gleditsia sinensis. Similarities between both, inclined me to try use thorns of European offspring of probably American G. triacanthos ancestry. And I've found hot water infusion made from tablespoon of shredded thorns (young reddish-brown) to be tasty, invigorating tonic, a good black tea substitute. All part of this plant might be unhealthy if consumed in excess, and it is advised to avoid Gleditsia during pregnancy.

      MEDICINAL USES

    Gleditsia have been used as a medicinal herb for centuries in different regions of the world. And today there is growing number of medicinal studies from many countries confirming properties of this tree. However similar in appearance, many Gleditsias from different regions vary as chemotypes, so origin of crude drug herb substance, should be considered important. Nevertheless both traditional uses and modern medicine researches about Gleditsias from different countries, are showing strong similarities in influences on human health.
   All parts of G. triacanthos contain alkaloid triacanthine, that act hypotensive and antispasmodic on bronchial smooth muscles and intestines, and also support process of burning fat, but is toxic in excess (LD50  35mg/kg, young leaves have highest concentration of triacanthine in this plant, which is up to 1%). Foster and Duke gives remedies made from Gleditsia triacanthos the same safety level as for coffee. Also G. sinensis have many specific alkaloids and triterpenoidal saponins isolated from its parts, of which any should be used with cautious.
    Fully ripened, dried pods of G. triacanthos are made into tea for indigestion, stomach and duodenum ulcers (except open ones), measles, whooping cough, colds and catarrh. It is antiseptic, analgesic, mydriatic, adjuvant and anthelmintic. Cherokee use pods for dysentery, dyspepsia and measles. Creek considered the pods to be a good antidote for complains of children children. Alcoholic extracts have been proved effective against cancer. It contain saponins. alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins.
   In Traditional Chinese Medicine, G. sinensis pods ( Zao Jiao, Fructus Gleditsiae Sinensis or Gleditsia Abnormalis Fructus) in form of powder or pils, are used for constipation (induces bowels movement), coughs, congestion in chest, asthma, apoplexy, headache, epilepsy, to dispels flegm, reduce swellings, open orifices, alleviating nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis and awaken the spirit. Paste made from boiled pods and vinegar is applied on swollen sores (before ulceration). Extracts proved to be effective anti cancer drug, with potential in leukemia treatment. It is pungent, warm in property, acts on lungs and large intestine channels. Overdose might cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Bark from twigs of Gleditsia triacanthos was used in form of infusions by Delaware Indians as a cough remedy, to cleanse blood and as a general tonic. Fox Indians used it for colds, fevers, measles and smallpox. Meskwaki used to give it to ill persons to help them regain strength and for fevers. Infusions was also used to induce sweating, reduce bronchial congestion and for treatment of dyspepsia (including the one that is caused by overheating). 

I didn't found any information about use of thorns of American Gleditsia except one - Creek Indians used boiled branches with thorns for measles and smallpox, they also used it to bath as a treatment for smallpox. But Chinese highly value thorns of their trees, called Zao Jiao Ci (Spina Gleditsiae Sinensis). As one of 50 fundamental herbs in TCM, it is used for swellings, edema, suppuration, tinea, psoriasis, eczema, scabies, nodules, boils, ringworm, swollen painful breasts, preulcerous sores, carbuncle, for flegm removal and coughs. It is acrid and worm, act immunomodulatory, antialergic, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, anthelmintic, relax spasms of trachea and bronchus, expel winds and draws out toxins. Both water and ethanol extracts proved its anticancer properties it laboratory tests, among others it proved to be specifically effective against uterine and breast cancer cells. Organic acids extracted from G. sinensis thorns, showed strong anti-HIV activity.

    Any parts of Gleditsia should be avoided by pregnant women and people with open sores, qi or yin deficiency and hemoptysis.

     Sources

'' Florida Ethnobotany '' - Daniel F. Austin, CRC Press 2004
'' Handbook of Edible Weeds '' - James A. Duke, CRC Press 2000
'' CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonus Plants '' - Umberto Quattrocchi, CRC Press 2012
'' Medicinal Plants of Central Asia : Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan'' - Sasha W. Eisenman, Lena Struwe,      David E. Zaurow,  Springer Science & Business Media 2012
'' Integrating Conventional and Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care'' - Tai Lahans, Elsevier Health      Sciences 2007
'' Chinese Materia Medica : Combinations and Applications '' - Xu Li, Elsevier Health Sciences 2002
'' A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine : Plants, Minerals and Animals Products ''
 - Carl-Hermann Hempen, Toni Fisher, Elsevier Health Sciences 2009
'' The CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees '' CABI 2013
A Summary of Famine Foods Listed in the Chlu Huang Pen Tsao (1406 A.D.)

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Gleditsia_triacanthos.html
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/gleditsia/triacanthos.htm
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Gleditsia_triacanthos.pdf
http://firstways.com/2011/11/01/wild-candy-in-the-honey-locust-tree/
http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/mesquitehoney-locust.html
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http://khartasia-crcc.mnhn.fr/ja/node/1432
http://www.vashsad.ua/plants/dendrolog/articles/show/8497/
http://hortuscamden.com/plants/view/gleditsia-sinensis-lam
http://blog.daum.net/sa55jung/15973609
http://www.loc.gov/preservation/about/prd/gardfor/essays/spongberg.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkGf71nTGKM
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Pages/Gleditsia
http://plantillustrations.org/taxa.php?id_taxon=1767
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSrNt426-4
http://www.saigoncosmetics.com/Tin-Tuc/Mon-qua-thien-nhien-cho-toc
http://www.eastbound88.com/showthread.php/33865-What-Vietnamese-used-before-Shampoo
http://www.meo.vn/cay-bo-ket-va-cong-dung-chua-benh.html
http://herbalis.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=381
http://www.1000listnik.ru/lekarstvennie-travi/04/15-gledichiya.html
http://www.rootdown.us/Herbs/Zao+Jia?MeridianID=10#Profile
http://duiyaoonline.com/herbs/zaojiao.htm
http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/08/chinese-honeylocust-fruit-zao-jiao.html
http://www.zhongyibaike.com/wiki/%E7%9A%82%E8%8D%9A%E5%88%BA
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20564491
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/12/243
http://www.mammalive.net/research/breast-cancer-and-herbs
http://www.scientific-publications.net/get/1000002/1401701849442581.pdf
http://www.relaquim.com/archive/2009/p2009373218-229.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17885844
http://gxsti01.vicp.net/english/detail/8bfc5382-ce7b-4a8f-ab02-3a8ae4bc6bbe
http://www.captura.uchile.cl/bitstream/handle/2250/16439/Cassels_Bruce.pdf?sequence=1
http://www.plant-ecology.com/Jweb_zwstxb/EN/abstract/abstract11346.shtml
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.25116/pdf
http://www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/AbstractingJournals/mapa/FullTextSearch/2009/October%202009/Pharmacology-Oct09.htm
http://delawaretribe.org/wp-content/uploads/LENAPE-MEDS.pdf
http://www.cjcmm.com.cn/cjcmmen/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=11842&flag=1
http://www.weiku.com/products/18310876/Chinese_Honeylocust_Gleditsia_sinensis_soap_bean_ornamental_tree.html
http://chineseherbinfo.com/zao-jiao-ci-gleditsia-spinethorn/
http://www.kamwo.com/help/herb-guide.php?single-herb=Zao-Jiao
http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?channelid=1288&lang=en&searchword=herb_id=D00916
http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/gltr.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuhuang_Bencao

http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/1752/

Dodonaea viscosa - Hopbush

Polska wersja

     PLANT PROFILE

   Dodonaea viscosa is a shrub that might become a small tree, that grows in many tropical and worm regions of the world. It is popular in Australasia - which is probably the centre of its origin, Africa, India and Pakistan, Hawaii, Peru and Brasil. Many different unrelated cultures discovered its medicinal values long ago and still use it frequently in practise. As latin word viscosa indicates, young leaves of this herb are sticky, as their surface is covered with resin. It is often planted as an ornamental plant, mostly for its nice looking seed capsules an foliage (esspecialy cultivar 'Purpurea' from New Zealand, with purple leaves), as its tiny flowers are not much showy. It is often planted to avoid soil erosion, for dune fixation and as a wind shield. Its extremely hard wood is used in many cultures for tools and weapons. Most used english common name for this herb - Hopbush or Sticky Hopbush is related to its use as a hops substitute in beer making by early Australian settlers.


      CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

  There are different subspiecies of Dodonaea viscosa, often considered seperate species and cultivars of this plant, that can cope with different conditions. But in general this is a dense, fast growing, evergreen shrub that can become a small tree up to 8m high. It likes a lot of sun, sandy, loamy or rocky, well drained soils (pH 6,5-9,2), don't mind droughts and strong winds but fear of shade and temperatures lowest than -5'C. In spring time tiny, seperate male and female flowers are opening, but sadly mostly on seperate plants. In summer time atractive looking seed capsules appear on female plants. Pollen is wind dispersed, but even unfertilized flowers are developing capsules. Leaves are harvested in summer.


      CULINARY USES

  Seeds capsules are used instead of hops in brewing and its infusions are drinked as a tonic.

     MEDICINAL USES

   Dodonaea viscosa is widely used in tradicional herbalism of Australia and many other countries where it is common. Its leaves fresh, dried and powdered or in form of decoction are commonly applied for wounds, as it stimulate human dermal fibroblast and have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, analgesic and antipruritic activity. It is also used for skin disorders like iritating rashes, ringworms, boils, sprains, bruises, burns, snake bites, stingray stings, veneral deseases, rheumatism and bone fractures. Leaf juice is applied on trachoma.
   Leaves can be chewed or decoction might be used as a gargle, for toothache, sore throat or oral thrush. Decoction made from new leaf tips or young leaves are used internally for fevers, colds, coughs, influenza, arthritis, asthma, stomach troubles (it relax smooth muscles), diarrhea, ulcers, measles, headaches and to induce sweatings but caution is necessary as plant contain small amounts of cyanogenic toxins that may couse cyanide poisoning. It also contain lot of tanins (up to 18%), saponins, sterols, di- and triterpens, flavonoids including glycosides of quercitin and kaempherol, 1-8 cineole rich essential oils.
   In East Africa, roots of Hopbush, fresh or in form of decoction are used by women to stimulate lactation, treat dysmenorrhoea and irregular menstruation. Essential oils and extracts from leaves act antibacterial and hypotensive. Water and alcoholic extracts exhibited cardiac depresant and coronary-constricting properties. In Peru young, sticky leaves are chewed for its stimulating effect like coca leaves. Leaves, fruits, stems and bark can be used for preparations of baths, good for skin infections, sciatica, candida infections and veneral diseases. Several studies indicated anti-diabetic properties of water and alcoholic extracts from leaves. Brazilians apply sap on tumors. In southern part of India, Dodonaea seeds are grounded with black pepper and used to induce sterility in women.

      Sources

'' Medicinal Activity of Dodonaea viscosa - A preliminary study '' - Andrew Pengelly, Australian Government, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, 2008
'' Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America '' - James A. Duke, CRC Press 2008
'' CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonus Plants '' - Umberto Quattrocchi CRC Press 2012

http://jprhc.in/index.php/ajprhc/article/viewFile/54/52
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http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2007/dodonaea-viscosa.html
http://www.ccma.vic.gov.au/GLOBAL/uploaded/Speciesnotes-Dodonaeaviscosa.pdf
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/dod-visc.htm
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Dodonaea_viscosa
http://www.fao.org/forestry/14636-0ddae3eed6e5208d80d92fb8dd2892b4.pdf
http://ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=4259
http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Dodonea%20viscosa.pdf
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:298605#tab_names
http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2011/08/hopebush-dodonaea-viscosa-uses-and.html
http://www.indianetzone.com/49/aliar.htm
http://www.ijpbs.net/issue-4/Ph-21.pdf
http://www.apstas.com/Hop_bushes.html
http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Dodonaea%20viscosa_En.htm

Ptelea trifoliata - Hop Tree, Wafer Ash

Polska wersja

        PLANT PROFILE

    Ptelea trifoliata is a bush or small tree native to eastern part of North America. It have long tradiction of medicinal use and even being esteemed as sacred by Menomini tribe. Although root bark of this plant is praised by some medics as a supreme tonic, comparable to quinine, it is today not popular in its homeland and nearly unknown as a herb anywhere else. In early 19th century its popularity in USA as a great respiratory drug, uplifted its prices so high, that later it become a bit forgoten. Ptelea's fruits are used as a hop substitute in brewery, hence its common name Hop Tree, and was growing for this purpose in certain parts of Russia. Other common names of this plant are : Wafer Ash, Tree Trefoil, Stinking Ash, Quinine Tree and Shrubby Trefoil. It is often planted in its homeland as well as in Europe, for its ornamental purposes, and it is more about its samasara kind of a fruits than about its flowers. There are also highly attractive cultivars with (all year round, untill fall ) golden leaves - Ptelea trifoliata var. aurea and some variegated forms. Whole plant have yields strong smell when brushed, it have a citrusy note ( it is far relative of citruses ) and a hint of hops, but many people found this fragnance unpleasant. Some people found even smell of flowers to be too intense, other praise it, comparing it to that of an orange and honeysuckle flowers.

      CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

   Ptelea trifoliata is slow growing bush that can become small tree, up to 8m high. It can be pruned to sustain as a dense bush. Naturally it ussually appear in woodlands or on brinks of forests, so it prefer semi-shade but can also tolerate full shade or full sun. It like wet but not to boggy soils. It is said to tolerate any pH of soil. It can stand cold temperatures even to -30'C. Tiny, but very fragnant, typical citrusy flowers gathered in clusters appear in early summer, followed by small samasara, wafer fruits in late summer. Those fruits ussually lasts on trees till spring. Bark and root bark should be colected after fruit is ripe but before the leaves begin to fade. Leaves should be collected in late summer, flowers and fruits when fully developped. In sunny days, skin protection is highly advised while dealing with this plant, just like with Rue and some citrus plants, as direct contact might couse photosensitivity and result with the same dermatisis.


         CULINARY USES

   Hop Tree is most common name for this plant. Its samsara kind of a fruits are used as a hop substitute for brewing beers and make a nice herbal tea that support digestion and revitalised body. It is also added when making bread to yeast to make it rise quicker.

        MEDICINAL USES

   North American Indian tribe, Menomini praised Ptelea trifoliata as a sacred plant, its bark and root bark are used as a panacea and is added to other herbs to increase their effectivness. It is said to be excellent tonic, of which cold infusions not iritate mucus membranes, like most of tonics do and sooth them when their are iritated. Root bark was mostly used part of Ptelea trifoliata in Eclectic herbalism and tinctures are said to be the most effective. There are reports about treatment of asthma, that starts with present relief, but might couse - '' a troublelesome external erysipelatous inflamation, either general or local but which if use of tincture be persisted in, finaly disappears, and the patient becomes at the same time permatently cured of the disease for which he was treated.'' ( ''King's American Dispensatory'' John King 1854 ). Ptelea's bark is also used to increase appetite and digestion, dissolve calculi, for rheumatism, intermittent and remittent fevers, malaria, bronhitis, phthisis, syphilis, scrofula, pineworms, roundworms, diarrhoea, muscles pain, anorexia, general debility and convalescence. It contain insoluble in water oleoresin, tanic and galic acids, berberine, arginine, cumarine, dictamnine, saponins, many specific quinoline alkaloids and voltile oil.
   It act as a tonic, stimulant, stomachic, orexigenic, expectorant, alterative, analgesic, antipiretc, antibacterial, antifungal, antiperiodic, astringent, anthelmitic, intoxicant, vulnerary and diaphoretic. Leaves, fruits and flowers have similar but weaker actions and can be used in the same manner. Water infusions of any part of the plant, or crushed leaves can be applied on wounds as an promoting healing antiseptic.
  Diana Beresford-Kroeger, botanist and medicinal biochemist, wrote in her book, that pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn't even handle this tree, becouse of its high cumarin content. This plant can also cause photosensitization of the skin and dermatitis may appear, as a resoult of open contact on sunny days.

    Sources

'' Historical Review of Ptelea trifoliata in Botanical and Medical Literature '' - Virginia Long Bailey
'' Florida Etnobotany '' - Daniel F. Austin, CRC Press 2004
'' American Medicinal Plants ''- Charles F. Millspaugh, Dover Publications Inc. 1974
'' Arboretum America - A Philosophy of the Forest '' - Diana Beresford-Kroeger,
    University of Michigan Press 2003
'' Let's Get Natural with Herbs'' - Debra Rayburn, Ozark Moutain Publishing 2007
''The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses'' - Deni Brown, DK 2002

http://doctorschar.com/archives/hoptree-ptelea-aquatica/
http://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/ptelea.html
https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/ashwa078.html
http://keys2liberty.wordpress.com/tag/ptelea-trifoliata/
http://www.friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/plants/hoptree.html
http://www.manataka.org/page73.html
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/ethnobot.pl?ethnobot.taxon=Ptelea%20trifoliata
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1710/#b

Rhus typhina, Rhus hirta - Staghorn Sumac

Polska wersja

      PLANT PROFILE

   Staghorn Sumac is a low growing tree or tall bush with a picturesqe shape, fancy, velvety red fruit cones and leaves that are turning beautiful, scarlet red in autumn. It is native to eastern North America but is very popular in Europe, cultivated for its ornamental purposes. Rhus typhina (synonym Rhus hirta) is most common sumac in north of Europe, but it is not known there for its culinary and medicinal uses, which are traditions of North American Indians, sometimes still cultivated in USA. It hybrydise not only with North American Smooth Sumac - Rhus glabra and Shining Sumac - Rhus copallina that share its medicinal and culinary values and so should their hybrids. But also with Miditerranean Rhus coriaria, which fruits are popular spice in Sicilly, Turkey, Syria, Tunisia and also other countries of this region. There are also closely related, edible sumacs in China - Rhus chinensis, India - Rhus punjabensis and other South Asian countries.

   If You are afraid of sumacs because you have heard about poison sumac, you have to know that it looks very differently and have white fruits while all edible sumacs have red fruits. And it is also highly unlikely to find any poison sumac if you are anywhere in Europe and even hard in its homeland in North America. Dr. Henryk Różański famous Polish herbalist claims that tiny spikes/hears, that cover leaves, fruits and young stems of Staghorn sumac can cause breathing problems, allergies or even trigger asthma attack and skin rushes when rubbed. I never heard or read anything about it from any other source, and haven't noticed it myself, though I know this plant for many years. But it sounds reasonable to me and so I advice you to check it yourself for good, before you decide to grow it near your house.
   Some of North-American Indian tribes used dried berries, leaves or bark powder from Staghorn Sumac in mix with tobacco, for smoking during peace pipe ceremonies.

  Different parts of Rhus typhina plant are used to make different colors of dye, the berries itself can dye fabric red, brown or black, depends on how it was prepared and on what stage of growth it was harvested.

   CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

   Staghorn sumac is easy to grow bush that is quickly turning into small beautiful tree. It can grown 3m height in just 3 years but usually stops growing up after reaching about 5m. Its crown width is usually bigger than its height and it have majestic shape that looks wonderful especially after leaves turning scarlet red and gold before they drop in late fall. Its crimson fruit cones that appear in late summer are also very ornamental. They are much more vivid than its greeny-yellow flowers and lasts much longer. It is giving its charm, staying at the tops of brunches even for whole winter, but if you want to use it in your kitchen, pick it as soon as it will turn fully red. Don't wait till rains will wash away most of its flavor or it'll start to rot. After harvesting (the whole red clusters) you can use it fresh, freeze it for later or crumble into small pieces and dry. The bark should be collected during spring or summer, and dried.

   While most of Staghorn sumacs are dioecious which means they have either male or female flowers, there are also some that have both and can self pollinate. Rhus typhina can adapt to any soil and nearly any conditions ( at least in temperate climate zones ), so it is not the question of where it will feel good, but where You will feel good with it ( though not poisonous like Poison Sumac, it might cause allergic reactions ). It is hardy to -30'C and can stand severe heats and droughts, the only thing it seems to dislike is swampy, boggy ground and dark shade. It usually spreads through its rhizomes creating colonies of bushes around mother plants so it is better to start control it before it will become quite invasive. 

      CULINARY USES

   Staghorn Sumac fruits have nicely sour taste and soaked in cold water are giving pleasant lemonade like drink, which is old traditional Cherokee beverage called Quallah (usually drunk with added honey). They can also be used as a lemon juice or vinegar substitute or brewed into wine.  

   Dried, grounded fruits of Rhus coriaria (identical in taste to those of Rhus typhina) are a popular spice in Middle East and Mediterranean area, called simply Sumac - which means red in Syrian language. It is added to kebabs, roasted chickens, fish dishes, stews, pizzas, rice, potatoes and salads. It is also an ingredient of some of many variations of popular Arab spices mix called Za'atar, that is based on Origanum syriacum.
  Young shoots of Rhus typhina can be peeled and eaten raw, steamed, boiled or roasted. It tastes mild, quite like asparagus and can be added to soups, stews or stir-fries.


   
     MEDICINAL USES

   Rhus typhina have been traditionally used by many tribes of North American Indians, as a medicinal plant for many common ailments, and some American herbalists cultivate this knowledge. Which is unfortunately mostly entirely unknown in Europe and elsewhere, where this plant is popular as an ornamental plant. 

  Staghorn Sumac fruits are consumed raw, dried or in form of infusion, for coughs, cold, flu, fevers, diabetes, to aid digestion and stop diarrhea, stomach upset, bowels complains, and chewed to stop vomiting and as a remedy for bed-wetting. The Infusions are used as a gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis. 

  The fruits are astringent, cooling, antimicrobial, diuretic and purify the blood. It contains mainly malic acid, tannins, polyphenols, and amino acids, vitamins: C, B1, B2, B6, B12, cyanocobalamin, nicotinamide and biotin. It is also good source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium.

   Dried bark is rich in tannins and act antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, hemostatic, galactogogue and tonic. In form of decoction it is used to treat diarrhea, fevers, piles, kidney or bladder infections, water retention, kidney or bladder stones, painful urination, general debility, uterine or anal prolapse, and to to stimulate milk production in nursing mothers (small pieces of the wood were also eaten for this purpose). 

   The leaves are astringent and highly antioxidant, they are rich in hydrolyzed tannins and as infusions have been taken as a treatment for asthma, diarrhea, urinary infections, syphilis, and used as a gargle for sore throat. Water-acetonic extract from R. typhina leaves has shown interferon-inducing and antitumoral activities, and a methanol extract displays high antiprotease activity. The dried leaves were smoked by the Native Americans for treating asthma.

  The roots are astringent, blood purifying, diuretic and emetic, infusion of the roots were used for hemorhages, and combined with Echinacea purpurea has been used in the treatment of venereal disease. 

  The flowers are astringent and stomachic, in form of infusion it has been used to treat stomach pains.

  Sap is used applied on warts, but in some people it might cause allergic rash. A poultice of the roots has been used to treat boils. A fruit or leaf poultice was used for treating rashes caused by poison ivy. Dried bark can be used to made antiseptic salve.

    Sources

'' Medicinal Plants of Native America, Part 1 '' - Daniel E. Moerman, University of Michigan Press 1986

Antioxidant capacities of polyphenols from Sumac (Rhus typhina L.) leaves inprotection of erythrocytes against oxidative damage - Ewa Olchowik, Agnieszka Sciepuk, Saidmukhtar Mavlyanov, Nodira Abdullajanova, Maria Zamaraeva

http://firstways.com/2011/08/23/how-and-why-to-eat-sumac/
http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Rhus+typhina
http://theepicentre.com/spice/sumac/
http://www.thejaps.org.pk/docs/v-22-2/44.pdf
http://rozanski.li/?p=81
http://telemedicine.org/botanica/bot6.htm
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/47400
http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380377737_Borchardt%20et%20al.pdf
http://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/rhus-glab.html
http://pjbs.org/pjnonline/fin1548.pdf

http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Rhus+typhina

https://www.sarcraft.com/news/2018/8/22/wildediblewednesday-822-staghorn-sumac