Menu list goes here

Herbal Database Search Results

Back to: Pathways Main Search Page For Metaphysical uses visit The Witchs Haven

Callicarpa macrophylla

Common name:		Family:	Verbenaceae
Author:	Vahl.	Botanical references:	200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat:	Swampy localities and ravines[158]. Waste places and roadsides to 1800 metres[146]. Mixed forests at elevations of 100- 2000 metres in China[266].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	C. tomentosa[G]
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	callicarpa = beautiful seeded macrophylla = large leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Lamiales. Verbena family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	India India(Santal)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 2.5m. It is hardy to zone 9. It is in flower from June to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 2/5 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 can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - raw. The white spongy fruit is sweet and succulent when fully ripe[272]

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antirheumatic Aromatic Poultice Stomachic.

The leaves are heated and applied as a poultice to ease the pain of rheumatic joints[240, 272]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[272]. A juice made from the leaves mixed with equal portions of Drymaria diandra and Oxalis corniculata is used in the treatment of gastric troubles[272].
The root is chewed to relieve rashes on the tongue[272]. A paste made from the roots is used to treat fevers[272]. The juice of the root is used to treat indigestion[272].
An oil obtained from the roots is aromatic and stomachic[240]. It is assumed that this is an essential oil[K].
The inner bark is pounded and used as a poultice on cuts and wounds[272].
The fruits are chewed to treat boils on the tongue[272]. The juice of ripe fruits is used in the treatment of indigestion and fevers[272].

Other Uses

Wood.

Wood - soft[158]. It is used as a fuel[272].

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position or light dappled shade[11, 200]. Prefers a highly fertile well-drained loamy soil[11, 200].
This species is only likely to be hardy in the very mildest parts of Britain, requiring a warm sunny corner[11, 182].
Requires cross-pollination for good fruit production[182].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow February in a greenhouse[78]. Only just cover the seed[138]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 18° c[138]. 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, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10cm long, July/August in a frame. High percentage[78].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth with a heel[78] taken in early spring[200].

Suppliers

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

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

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.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Verbenaceae.

[CHINA] 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

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[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.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[138] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[146] Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972
Written last century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.

[158] Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945
A good flora for the middle Himalayan forests, sparsly illustrated. Not really for the casual reader.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[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.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

Back to: Pathways Home page, Main Search Page Help Bibliography

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.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Callicarpa+macrophylla
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Callicarpa+macrophylla

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
(You can copy, distribute, display this works but: Attribution is required, its for Non-Commercial purposes, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft) i.e. has an identical license.)
We also ask that you let us know (michael@thewitchshaven.com) if you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.

Pathways Home :: View Cart :: Shipping & Returns :: Contact Us :: Privacy Policy :: Philosophy :: The Witchs Haven

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.