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Osbeckia chinensis

Common name:		Family:	Melastomataceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	58, 200
Synonyms:	Osbeckia japonica (Naud.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan and Malaysia.
Habitat:	Grassy places in lowland areas of central and southern Japan[58]. Hilly places, edges of paddy fields and roadsides in China[147].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Myrtales. Melastome family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China India

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.5m. It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower in July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antitussive Expectorant Febrifuge.

The whole plant is antitussive, expectorant and febrifuge[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of watery diarrhoea, dysentery and excessive sputum production in coughing[147].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires warm greenhouse treatment in Britain[1].

Propagation

Seed -

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.

References for the family Melastomataceae.

To be included in 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 Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but 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.

[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.

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.
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?Osbeckia+chinensis
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Osbeckia+chinensis

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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.