Corydalis oppositifolia

Corydalis oppositifolia

Description

Corydalis is the name of a group of herbs used in different parts of the world to relieve pain. Corydalis yanhusuo is a species used primarily in Chinese herbal medicine. C. gariana, native to the Himalayas, is used medicinally in India. A related species, Corydalis cava, is used in European herbalism. Another closely related species, is Corydalis canadensis (also called Dicentra canadensis) and known by the common name corydalis or turkey corn, is found in North America. There are other species of Corydalis found throughout the world. Although the names are somewhat confusing, many are used by herbal therapists in similar ways and are included under the umbrella label corydalis.

C. yanhusuo is a small herb that grows in mixed sun and shade at the edge of woodlands. It is native to Siberia, northern China, and Japan, but is cultivated in other cool parts of China. C. yanhusuo grows to about 8 in (20 cm) in height and has narrow leaves and pink flowers. The rhizome (underground stem) is used in healing. C. yanhusuo is called yan hu suo in Chinese. Some sources suggest that C. yanhusuo is used interchangeably with the related species C. solida, which is called by the same Chinese name.

C. cava is a perennial that grows in shady forests. It is native to southern Europe and has spread throughout the continent. C. cava grows to a height of about 11 in (30 cm). Its flowers range in color from red to yellowish to white, with occasional lilac, brownish-red, or dark blue flowers. The tubers (knobby, fleshy underground stems) are used medicinally. Alternative names for the North American species of corydalis include turkey corn, squirrel corn, and early fumitory.

General Use

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), C. yanhusuo is said to have a warm nature and a pungent, bitter taste. It is associated with the heart, liver, and spleen. C. yanhusuo is used to relieve pain resulting from almost any cause. It is especially used to treat menstrual cramps, chest pains, and abdominal pain. Corydalis is also the preferred herb in treating pain from traumatic injuries. Some herbalists report that frying corydalis in vinegar enhances its ability to ease pain.

Along with its ability to relieve pain, C. yanhusuo is used as a general aid to blood circulation and to promote the circulation of qi, or vital energy. Some Chinese herbalists also report using corydalis as a sedative and to lower blood pressure. The herb is frequently found in combination with other plants in Chinese formulas that treat stabbing pain sensations, painful periods, and the like.

In Western medicine, the various corydalis species are used to treat shaking and involuntary tremors. They can be used to treat people with Parkinson's disease. Corydalis is also used as a painkiller; a diuretic; a sedative that slows the pulse and depresses the central nervous system; and a tonic that invigorates the circulation. Occasionally it is used to treat mild forms of depression. In fact, the uses of the various corydalis species are surprisingly similar around the world.

Research scientists have isolated several potent alkaloid compounds from corydalis. The strongest of these is corydaline. It has the ability to block certain receptors in the brain associated with the sensation of pain. There is good evidence from Chinese studies that corydalis is effective in relieving pain and menstrual cramps. Evidence for the other uses of corydalis is limited to test tube and animal studies. One 1999 study at the University of Maryland Dental School found that an extract of C. yanhusuo was successful in reducing artificially induced inflammation in the paws of rats, although it was less successful than some other TCM herbs that were tested.

Preparations

Corydalis tubers and rhizomes are dug either in the spring or fall, before or after the leaves are actively growing. They are dried and kept in a cool place before use. Corydalis can be made into a tea, a tincture, or a decoction. Commercial extracts are also available.

Corydalis is usually combined with other herbs. One popular treatment for menstrual pain is a decoction of corydalis and cinnamon. In traditional Chinese medicine, corydalis is found in almost all formulas to treat menstrual pain, other pain formulas, and formulas to improve the circulation.

Precautions

Chinese herbalists report that pregnant women should not take corydalis. Since corydalis contains a compound that depresses the central nervous system, it should be used cautiously when using other central nervous system depressant drugs or alcohol. This herb should be taken under the supervision of a trained herbalist.

Side Effects

Although no poisonings from corydalis have been reported, overdose is likely to produce shaking and tremors.

Interactions

Some Western herbalists report that corydalis is incompatible with tannic acid and vegetable astringents. Corydalis has been used in many Asian formulas without any reported interactions. Few, if any, scientific studies have been done on its interactions with Western pharmaceuticals.

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Fumariaceae
Genus:	Corydalis

Coronilla orientalis

Coronilla orientalis

The genus Coronilla contains Old World shrubs and herbs.

Coronilla species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the case-bearers Coleophora coronillae (which feeds exclusively on Coronilla varia) and Coleophora vicinella.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Rosidae
Order	Fabales
Family	Fabaceae – Pea family
Genus	Securigera DC.
Species	Securigera orientalis (Mill.) Lassen

Cornus sanguinea

Cornus sanguinea

The Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea, syn. Swida sanguinea) is a species of dogwoodEurope and western Asia, occurring north to southern England and southern Scandinavia, and east to the Caspian Sea. native to most of

It is a medium to large deciduous shrub, growing 2-6 m tall, with dark greenish-brown branches and twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin; they are green above, slightly paler below, and rough with short stiff pubescence. The hermaphrodite flowers are small (5-10 mm diameter), with four creamy white petals, produced in clusters 3-5 cm diameter, and are insect pollinated. The fruit is a globose black berry 5-8 mm diameter, containing a single seed. These berries are called dogberries.

For more information on Common Dogwood, and Dogwoods in general see article Dogwood.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Rosidae
Order	Cornales
Family	Cornaceae – Dogwood family
Genus	Cornus L. – dogwood
Species	Cornus sanguinea L. – bloodtwig dogwood
Subspecies	Cornus sanguinea L. ssp. australis (C.A. Mey.) Jáv.

Consolida orientalis

Consolida orientalis

Consolida is a genus of about 40 species of annual flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native from western Europe through the Mediterranean region east to central Asia. The common name, shared with the closely related genus Delphinium, is Larkspur.

Consolida differs from Delphinium in the flower structure, with the flowers in an open, loose, often branched spike, rather than the dense column of flowers found in Delphinium, and in the fruit, which comprises a single follicle, instead of a cluster of several together. Also unlike most Delphinium species, all Consolida species are annual.

Western variants of the plant are poisonous to cattle, and cattle ranchers are very careful to avoid grazing their cattle near the plant. A common cowboy adage to that effect is that " if you rode the range all day, and were tired of ridin', eat a fistful of larkspur, and you won't be tired anymore."

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Magnoliidae
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Genus	Consolida Gray – knight's-spur
Species	Consolida orientalis (J. Gay) Schroedinger – Oriental knight's-spur

Colchicum

Colchium variegatum

Colchicum is a genus of flowering plants containing around sixty species of perennial plantscorms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast. which grow from corms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast.

Colchicum speciosum

Colchicum autumnale, commonly called "autumn crocus" or "naked ladies", is the best known species. It produces purple, pink or white flowers resembling those of the crocus which appear from September to October in its native latitudes. It forms a rosette of dark green leaves, but only after flowering.

Several other species, such as C. speciosum, C. album, C. corsicum and C. agrippinum, are grown for their flowers.

Colchicum psaridis

Its leaves, corm and seeds are poisonous, containing the alkaloid colchicine. Its roots and seeds have long been considered to have valuable medicinal properties deriving from the use of small doses of this drug, such as to treat gout.

Colchicum balansae

In this genus the ovary of the flower is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10cm.

In the UK, the National Collection of Cochicums is maintained at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass	Liliidae
Order	Liliales
Family	Liliaceae – Lily family
Genus	Colchicum L. – colchicum

Clerodendron bungei

Clerodendron bungei

Étymologie : Clerodendrum vient du grec kleros qui signifie "chance" ou "destin" et dendron, "arbre". C'est donc l'"arbre de la chance". Alexander Andrejewitch von Bunge fut un botaniste russe (Kiev 1803 - 1890) qui enseignât en Estonie à l'université de Dorpat. Il étudiât la flore dans le désert de Gobi en Mongolie et en Sibérie occidentale.
Origine : Chine.
Habitat : le Clérodendron de Bunge apprécie une exposition au soleil, mais supporte la mi-ombre, surtout aux heures chaudes de la journée. On évitera les courants d'air froids en hiver.
Il se plaît dans un sol léger, humifère, frais.
Rusticité : zone 7 (il supporte le froid jusqu'à -17°). Les rameaux ne supportent pas le froid en dessous de - 8° C. En cas de gel, la plante repartira du pied.
Croissance : rapide.
Taille maximale : 1 à 2 m.
Port : houppier érigé.
Feuillage caduc. Feuilles simples, opposées, de 20 cm de long, cordiformes, à nervures marquées, grossièrement dentées, vert foncé sur le dessus. Elles dégagent une odeur nauséabonde (qui rappelle celle de l'urine....) lorsqu'on les froisse. D'où son ancien nom : Clerodendron foetidum ou Clérodendron fétide.
Fleurs en juillet-août, groupées en corymbes terminaux, denses, de couleur rose-lilas. Les fleurs sont tubulaires, et possèdent 4 pétales. Elles sont très odorantes.
Fruits : baies sphériques et d'un bleu très foncé, en automne.
Utilisation : en massif isolé, pour décorer un jardin, une allée.

Conseils de plantation : le Clérodendron de Bunge rejette fortement de la souche au printemps. Veillez à le planter isolé et à nettoyer les abords.
Multiplication : le clérondendron de Bunge peut être multiplié par semis, boutures, rejets ou greffage. Les boutures herbacées se pratiquent en juillet, les boutures de racines en octobre, la division des drageons au printemps.

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Clerodendrum

Clematis viticella

Clematis viticella

This collection of summer flowering clematis (which have as part of their parentage Clematis viticella) are spread around the garden growing up a variety of other plants, as well as on trellises with other climbers. 3 of each plant are maintained as part of the collection but in some cases one or more of these may be in a pot in order we can display them at shows and exhibitions, so yes they are fine in pots! There are currently 46 cultivars 1 species and 1 sub species forming the collection. The time of flowering can vary by two or three weeks according to season, but generally starts in May with Clematis 'Etoile Violette' seen here on the right. With more plants joining in through June and July, and with the latest flowerers starting by August. Most Clematis viticella cultivars will flower for around 3 months with some like 'Purple Haze' and 'Polish Spirit' nearer 4 months. Most years at least 6 different cultivars will still be flowering in October.
	Of the cultivars, most date from the mid 1800's to early 1900's but there has of late been a resurrgence of interest and some some are quite recently raised. Clematis 'Venosa Violacea' (left) dates from 1883, here growing through an excellent, scented, evergreen honeysuckle, Lonicera similis delavayi. While 'Etoile Violet' above is dated1885 colonises a Catalpa tree.
Seen on the right is single denim blue 'Vanessa' it is an excellent late performer and dates from the 1990's while the double flowered Clematis 'Mary Rose' is thought to be Clematis viticella Flora Plena and is the oldest known cultivar still in cultivation, being first mentioned in the 1500's Both plants seen here scrambling through the black stemmed bamboo Phyllostachys niger. Below the fruit cage provides a home for several different cultivars blue flowered 'Emilia Plater' came from Poland in 1988. The nodding flowers of 'Etoile Rose and 'Alba-Luxurians' in the background both date to the early 1900's
	None of the plants in the collection are difficult to grow all will do well dispite poor growing conditions. We find the ability to cut these plants back to the ground during winter one of the most usefull features. If you want to find out more we are always happy to help with any aspects of cultivation.

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Magnoliidae
Order	Ranunculales
Family	Ranunculaceae – Buttercup family
Genus	Clematis L. – leather flower
Species	Clematis viticella L. – Italian leather flower