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Euodia officinalis - Dode.

Author	Dode.	Botanical references	1, 109
Family	Rutaceae	Genus	Euodia
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	E. Asia - China in W. Hubeh and E. Sichuan.
Habitat	Thickets and wood margins[109].
Edibility Rating	0 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Shrub growing to 5m.

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

Analgesic; Appetizer; Cardiotonic; Cytotoxic; Hypotensive; Stomachic.

The fruit is analgesic, appetizer, cardiotonic, cytotoxic, hypotensive and stomachic[109, 174, 279]. It is used in Korea to treat intestinal disorders, pain and feelings of chill[279]. The fruit contains several alkaloids including evodiamine and rutaecarpine[279]. It has shown some effect upon neurotransmitter activity, including serotonin antagonism and the inhibition of brain dopamine receptors[279].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, preferring a good loamy soil[1]. This report suggests that the plant might be hardy in Britain but gives no details. This species might be no more than a synonym for E. rutaecarpa[200, K].

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

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

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 Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[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.

[109] Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae. 0
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.

[174] Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants. 0
A good Japanese herbal.

[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.

[279] Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
An excellent book with terse details about the medicinal uses of the plants with references to scientific trials. All plants are described, illustrated and brief details of habitats given.

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