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Useful Temperate Plants

Mandragora caulescens

C.B.Clarke

Solanaceae

+ Synonyms

Anisodus caulescens (C.B.Clarke) Diels

Anisodus mariae Pascher

Mairella yunnanensis H.Lév.

Mandragora chinghaiensis Kuang & A.M.Lu

Mandragora tibetica Grubov

Common Name: Himalayan Mandrake

No Image.

General Information

Mandragora caulescens is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a deep, often branched taproot. Unlike other members of this genus, it often forms a central stem, which is occasionally branched; the plant can grow 20 - 60cm tall[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1316
Title
A revision of the genus Mandragora (Solanaceae)
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 28(1): 17-40
Author
Ungricht S.; Knapp S; Press J.R.
Publisher
 
Year
1998
ISBN
0968-0446
Description
A detailed study of the genus, including information on the historical and modern medicinal uses
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and possibly as a source of compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids and are poisonous[
19
Title
Poisonous Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Stary. F.
Publisher
Hamlyn
Year
1983
ISBN
0-600-35666-3
Description
Not very comprehensive, but easy reading.
,
21
Title
The Herb Book.
Publication
 
Author
Lust. J.
Publisher
Bantam books
Year
1983
ISBN
0-553-23827-2
Description
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
].

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1316
Title
A revision of the genus Mandragora (Solanaceae)
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 28(1): 17-40
Author
Ungricht S.; Knapp S; Press J.R.
Publisher
 
Year
1998
ISBN
0968-0446
Description
A detailed study of the genus, including information on the historical and modern medicinal uses

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), northern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar

Habitat

Grassy and stony slopes, open moorland, pastures and screes. Subalpine and alpine zone, especially among Rhododendron shrubs; at elevations from 2,200 - 4,900 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1316
Title
A revision of the genus Mandragora (Solanaceae)
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 28(1): 17-40
Author
Ungricht S.; Knapp S; Press J.R.
Publisher
 
Year
1998
ISBN
0968-0446
Description
A detailed study of the genus, including information on the historical and modern medicinal uses
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.40 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally prefer a deep humus-rich light soil and a sheltered position in full sun[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
], though they also tolerate some shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a circumneutral soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
] and dislikes chalk or gravel[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. Plants are liable to rot in wet or ill-draining soils[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots contain the alkaloids hyoscine and anisodamine, which are used medicinally[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

'Quishen', a Chinese herbal medicine consisting of the dried roots, is used in Yunnan and Xizang as a ginseng substitute for treating all kinds of physical weaknesses[
1316
Title
A revision of the genus Mandragora (Solanaceae)
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 28(1): 17-40
Author
Ungricht S.; Knapp S; Press J.R.
Publisher
 
Year
1998
ISBN
0968-0446
Description
A detailed study of the genus, including information on the historical and modern medicinal uses
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. 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.
Root cuttings in winter[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Mandragora+caulescens>

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