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
http://www.stuartxchange.com/Kalapinai.html
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/dodonaeavisangust.htm
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

Plectranthus amboinicus, Coleus aromaticus - Cuban Oregano

Polska wersja

       PLANT PROFILE

   The plant that You can see on photos here is a herb that have many names. Its most popular latin name is Plectranthus amboinicus, but this name is also used commonly, mistakenly for closely related species Plectranthus tomentosa, Plectrantus cremnus and their many hybrids. Other are Coleus aromaticus, Coleus amboinicus, and Plectranthus aromaticus. Most popular english common name seems to be Cuban Oregano, but its also called Mexican Mint, Country Borage, Indian Borage, Big Thyme, Spanish Thyme, Allherb, Queen of herbs and by many other names, all of which are also used for closely related Plectranthus genotypes mentioned above. There is a mess about its origin as well. According to some sources it is native to south-east of Africa, but other claims it to come from south-east Asia. What's certain about this plant, is that it is valuable herb, known in India since ancient sanskrit times and nowadays very popular around whole tropical world. The reason for this is colonial history that helped to spread it to places where it thrive well. European colonists probably quickly found out that their beloved Mediterranean Oregano and Thyme can't cope with tropical weather. And luckily they've found good substitute, as Plectranthus amboinicus contain thymol and carvacrol, chemical compounds responsible for smell and taste of Oreganos and Thymes. In few recent years this earlier unknown herb gained some popularity in northern Europe, and with its easy indoor maintance, pleasant aroma and many health benefits. I think it is just the matter of time when it'll become as popular as Aloe vera.

     CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

   Coleus aromaticus is small succulent shrub with tendency for climbing or creeping, it can reach over 1m hight and even more in width. It have strong stems with fleshy, hairy leaves and blue-violet or white-pink flowers in summer time. It grows best in rich, compost soil with neutral pH and high humidity, but if there will be excess of water in the ground its roots might start to rot. On the other hand it cope well with severe droughts, as it have lots of water stored in its succulent flesh. It also cope well with severe heat and scourging sun, as well as with strong shade (except variegata form with white staid green leaves), but feels best in partial shade. For all those reasons, it is very easy to grow indors and that is why it is becoming more and more popular house plant in northern Europe. Cuban oregano can't stand temperatures lower than 0'C and feel bad even when its colder than 10'C. Best way for using it is to pick it fresh, as its leaves and stems contain so much water, that even cuted into small pieces it won't dry well. Besides with good conditions, You can enjoy its fresh, tender, crunchy leaves all year round, so there's no point to gather and storage any for later.

      CULINARY USES

   Cuban oregano is quite similar in taste to Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare), so it might be used in the same way. It can be cutted in small pieces and added to salads, sandwiches, soups, meat dishes and many other meals. In India its whole, fresh, crunchy leaves are dipped in batter and fried in deep oil, this snack is called ,,Ajwain ke patta pakoda''. It also can be pickled or mashed into chutney. Squizzed juice or chopped fresh leaves are added to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for its flavour.


     MEDICINAL USES

   Coleus aromaticus is still quite unknown among Eastern herbalists, but as the plant is becoming more popular, so is the knowledge about it. There is growing number of researches that are proving its effectiveness in fighting ailments, that it was used for in Asia for centuries. It contain carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, salvigenin, genkwanin caryophyllene, patchoulane and p-cymene. This herb is antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, radioprotective, carminative, tonic, stimulant, emmenagogue, hepatoprotective, diaphoretic, antiepileptic and galactagogue.
   Cuban oregano leaves are simply eaten fresh for coughs, colds, malarial fevers, asthma, bronhit, mouth and nasal infections, diarrhea, indigestion, flatulence, dyspepsia, epilepsy, rheumatism, kidney stones and helminthiasis. Fresh crushed leaves are applied on burns, sprains, skin infections, scorpio bites or on forehead to ease headache. Decoction from leaves is giving after childbirth and soup with it is given to breastfeeding mothers to support lactation. It is also given to children for colic and colds. For ear aches (otalgia) pure fresh juice is poured into the ear and keep for 10 minutes.

                 

                    

                     

 

    Sources

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Oregano.html
http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258;year=2008;volume=2;issue=3;spage=182;epage=184;aulast=Kaliappan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectranthus_amboinicus
http://www.tarladalal.com/Ajwain-Patta-ke-Pakode-4970r
http://www.sailusfood.com/2010/06/19/vaamu-aaku-bajji-ajwain-patta-fresh-carom-leaves-ke-pakode/
http://www.bawarchi.com/recipe/vamu-aaku-patchadi-ajwain-leaves-chutney-oeswBjedeiadh.html
http://whateverchumps.blogspot.com/2011/07/ajwain-patta-parantha.html
http://www.lifewithspices.com/2011/11/karpuravallicuban-oregano-rasam.html
http://www.ayurveda-florida.com/Ayurvedic_Materia_Medica_Articles/Table2.htm