Menu list goes here

Herbal Database Search Results

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

Cocculus orbiculatus

Common name:		Family:	Menispermaceae
Author:	(L.)DC.	Botanical references:	109, 200
Synonyms:	Menispermum trilobum (Thunb.), Cocculus trilobus ((Thunb.)DC.), Cocculus thunbergii (DC.), Cebatha orbiculata (Kuntze.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat:	Sides of streams, to 1000 metres in W. China[109]. Sparse forests, bushes, village sides and forest edges in most regions of 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. ferrandianus[B,P] C. integer[B,P] C. lonchophyllus[B,P] C. virgatus[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Ao-Tuzura-Huzi [E], Chieh Li [E], Fang Chi [E], Mu Fang Chi [E], Shih Chieh [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	orbiculatus = circular
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Ranunculales. Moonseed family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

A decidious climber growing to 4m. It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). 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, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves Root.

Leaves - cooked. An emergency food, it is used when all else fails[177].
One report says that the root might be edible[177].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anodyne Antiasthmatic Antiphlogistic Antirheumatic Carminative Depurative Diuretic Vermifuge.

The root is anodyne, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, carminative, depurative, diuretic and vermifuge[147, 176, 218]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis, oedema and oliguria[176]. It has also shown antibacterial and anti-amoebic activity[176].
A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and paralysis[218].

Other Uses

Basketry Insecticide.

The bleached tendrils are used as an ornamental infill in basket making[46, 61].
The plant contains cocculoidine which has insecticidal activity[218].

Cultivation details

Easily cultivated in an ordinary garden soil[1], it prefers a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil in full sun or semi-shade[200]. Plants only fruit well when grown in full sun[219].
This species is hardy to about -10° c[200].
Plants climb by means of twining around supports[219]. They do not normally require pruning[219].
Closely related to C. carolinus[200].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in a greenhouse. 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 in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Root cuttings in December in a greenhouse[200].
Division in the dormant season.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].

Suppliers

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

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Cocculus thunbergii (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Cocculus trilobus (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[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.

References for the family Menispermaceae.

[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

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[109] Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader.

[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.

[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
A very good Chinese herbal.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[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.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[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?Cocculus+orbiculatus
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Cocculus+orbiculatus

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.