Back to main Search Page

Euodia lepta - (Spreng.)Merr.

Author	(Spreng.)Merr.	Botanical references
Family	Rutaceae	Genus	Euodia
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	E. Asia - China.
Habitat	Forest edges on hillsides and by streams[147].
Edibility Rating	0 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

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.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Antipruritic; Depurative; Febrifuge.

The roots and leaves are antipruritic, depurative and febrifuge[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of arthritis, fever, chickenpox, fever, epidemic influenza, meningitis, infectious hepatitis etc[147, 218].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Judging by the needs of other members of this genus it is probably easily grown in a good loamy soil.

Propagation

Seed - sow February in a greenhouse. Variable germination rates[78]. 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. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood (preferably forced in a greenhouse), 5 - 8cm with a heel, June to August in a warm greenhouse. Fair to good percentage[78].

Links

Permaculture.info Details of this plant in the Permaculture.info project, a community plant and permaculture database.

References

[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.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press 0 ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[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.

Readers Comments

Add a comment/link:

Discussion Monitor

To have posts to this page mailed to you enter your email address here:

(Your email address will not appear on the webpage or be passed on to third parties).