Phryma nana
Koidz.
Phrymaceae
This species has long been treated as a subspecies of Phryma leptostachya (as Phryma leptostachya asiatica (H.Hara) Kitam.) but it is now generally accepted that the Asiatic forms are distinct from the N. American forms (See Ze-Long Nie et al, Evolution of Biogeographic Disjunction between Eastern Asia and Eastern North America in Phryma (Phrymaceae); American Journal of Botany 93(9): 1343-1356. 2006.)
Phryma asiatica (H.Hara) O.Deg. & I.Deg.
Phryma esquirolii H.Lév.
Phryma leptostachya asiatica (H.Hara) Kitam.
Phryma leptostachya nana (Koidz.) H.Hara
Common Name:
General Information
Phryma nana is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a cluster of unbranched stems around 30 - 80cm tall, occasionally to 100cm[
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.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and insecticide. Research has shown that the plant contains a number of compounds with powerful insecticidal activity[
2213- Title
- Insecticidal Activity of Four Lignans Isolated from Phryma leptostachya
- Publication
- Molecules 2019, 24, 1976
- Author
- Yankai Li et al
- Website
- http://10.3390/molecules24101976
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
74- Title
- Flora of the USSR.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Komarov. V. L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Israel Program for Scientific Translation
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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.
Range
E. Asia - Russian Far East, Japan, Korea, eastern and southern China, northern Vietnam, northern India, Nepal
Habitat
Broad-leaved forests[
74- Title
- Flora of the USSR.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Komarov. V. L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Israel Program for Scientific Translation
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Moist ravines, forests, roadsides, mountain slopes, hillsides; at elevations from 300 - 2,800 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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Phryma nana has a very wide range in eastern Asia from the Russian Far East to northern Vietnam.
We have no specific information, but the plant grows wild in shady positions in rich, woodland soils.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant has cooling properties and is biting to taste. It clears fevers and detoxifies[
147- Title
- A Barefoot Doctors Manual.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Running Press; Philadelphica.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-914294-92-X
- Description
- A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
]. The whole plant is crushed and pulverized then applied externally to treat ulcers; ringworm and scabies etc; poisonous insect bites; and as an insecticide to kill fly maggots[
147- Title
- A Barefoot Doctors Manual.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Running Press; Philadelphica.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-914294-92-X
- Description
- A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
].
Other Uses
The whole plant has insecticidal properties[
147- Title
- A Barefoot Doctors Manual.
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Running Press; Philadelphica.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-914294-92-X
- Description
- A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
]. The plant is used traditionally as a natural botanical insecticide against a range of insects including flies and mosquitos. It has excited considerable interest into its properties. Research has shown that it, and especially the root, contains a range of compounds, particularly lignans, that have shown powerful insecticidal properties[
2213- Title
- Insecticidal Activity of Four Lignans Isolated from Phryma leptostachya
- Publication
- Molecules 2019, 24, 1976
- Author
- Yankai Li et al
- Website
- http://10.3390/molecules24101976
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. (Report is under the name Phryma leptostachya, the Asian form of which is now accepted to be a different species)
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
