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Trilisa odoratissima

Common name:	Vanilla Plant	Family:	Compositae
Author:	(Walter. ex J.F.Gmel.)Cass.	Botanical references:	1, 72
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	The plant contains coumarins[222], this is what gives it the scent of newly mown hay. When used internally, especially from dried plants, it can act to prevent the blood from co-aggulating[13]. Coumarins are implicated in liver disease and haemorrhage[222].
Range:	South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida, west to Missouri.
Habitat:	Low pinelands[72]. Pine barrens[235].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Carphephorus odoratissimus[B,G,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	American Deertongue [E], Amerikaanse Hertentong [E], Amerikanische Hirschzunge [E], Deer'S Tongue [E], Langue De Cerf Americain [E], Vanilla Leaf [E], Vanilla-leaf [B], Vanillaleaf [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	odora = fragrant
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	France Germany Netherlands Us

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m. . It is in flower in September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

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

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Condiment.

The leaves are used as a flavouring[72], they have the scent of vanilla[1, 2]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

The leaves are demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and tonic[222]. They are a folk remedy for coughs, malaria and neuroses[222].
The leaves are high in coumarins and have been experimentally effective in the treatment of high-protein oedema[222]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Other Uses

Repellent.

The dried leaves contain coumarin and have a scent like newly mown hay. They can be used as a condiment[169].

Cultivation details

Grows well in any moderately good light soil[1]. Plants grow in very acid soils in the wild[235].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[1]. 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 into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring[1].

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.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Carphephorus odoratissimus (a possible synonym).

[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.

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]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[13] Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.

[72] Small. Manual of the Southeastern Flora.
Getting rather dated now, it covers Southeastern N. America. No pictures, it is not for the casual reader.

[169] Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[235] Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.

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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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.