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Alangium chinense

Common name:		Family:	Alangiaceae
Author:	(Lour.)Harms.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:	Stylidium chinense (Lour.), Marlea begoniifolia (Roxb.), Alangium begoniifolium ((Roxb.)Baill.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - India to C. China
Habitat:	Upland thickets in W. China[147]. Open places around villages at elevations of 300 - 2400 metres in Nepal[272].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	3

Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen tree growing to 8m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to November. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 3/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Secondary.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Blood tonic; Carminative; Contraceptive.

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[218].
The roots and the stems are a blood tonic, carminative and contraceptive[147]. They are used in the treatment of rheumatism, numbness, traumatic injuries, wounds and snakebites[147]. A decoction of the leafy shoots is said to be tonic[218].
A paste of the roots is applied to the area around dislocated bones to help them setting[272].
The shoot, rootbark and whole plant are all used medicinally[218].

Other Uses

Oil.

An oil extracted from the seeds is used for lighting lamps[272].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[200]. Requires full sun and a sheltered position[200].
Not very frost tolerant[200], this species is likely to be on the borderlines of hardiness even if obtained from its higher provenances[11]. However, although the top growth will be killed back in all but the mildest winters, the plant will usually resprout from the base in the spring and will usually flower in the summer[245]. These flowers are sweetly scented[245].
This species is closely related to A. platinifolium[200].
Although a fair sized tree in its native habitat, it is unlikely to make more than a shrub more than 2 metres tall in Britain[245]. It does not require pruning[245].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When 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 in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[200].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The small white flowers are sweetly scented.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Alangiaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Alangium+chinense
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.