Common Name: Lu Xian Cao

General Information

Pyrola calliantha is an evergreen perennial plant with an extensive, branching rhizomatous rootstock. It forms basal rosettes of leaves at intervals along the rhizome and spreads to form a loose clump; the leafless flowering stems are around 15 - 30cm tall[].
The plant is commonly used in traditional Chines medicine and also in other regions where it grows wild.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - northeast India, China

Habitat

Montane coniferous forests, mixed forests; at elevations from 700 - 4100 metres[]. In forests of Picea and Abies or of Betula and Salix, on moist soil. Common at higher elevations[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pyrola calliantha
Species in this genus generally prefer a moist sandy woodland soil[, ] in a cool position with partial shade[, , ], though they are also usually tolerant of very heavy shade and can succeed in sunny positions[]. They require a peaty or leafy acid soil that remains moist in the summer[]. Soil pH in the wild is typically below 5.0[].
Pyrola species can be very difficult plants to grow. They require a specific mycorrhizal relationship in the soil and therefore need to be grown initially with some soil collected from around an established plant of the same species[]. They are also very difficult from seed. as well as being intolerant of root disturbance which makes division difficult[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used locally as a tea[]. (As Pyrola rotundifolia chinensis)

Medicinal

Pyrola calliantha (Chinesa name Lu Xian Cao) is commonly used in traditional Chines medicine and is an ingredient of several traditional formulas.
The leaves are a sweet, bitter and warm herb that dispels wind-dampness, strengthens the sinews and bones, tonifies the kidneys and stops bleeding[]. The plant is used to treat painful obstruction due to wind-dampness, as well as a lack of strength in the lower back and legs, particularly in older patients. It moistens the lungs and stops bleeding, and is therefore used for treating coughing of blood and nose bleeds, for which it is used both internally and externally. Its ability to stop bleeding is the basis for its use in treating excessive menstruation[]. The herb also nourishes the heart and restrains sweating, so can also be used to treat palpitations with nightsweats[].
Applied topically either as a powder or as the crushed fresh herb, it is used to treat bleeding secondary to trauma[].
The herb should be dried in the sun until the leaves soften, then immediately piled up so that the leaves turn a uniform purplish brown. If this is not done, one side of the leaf will remain green, and the material will crumble too easily[].

Active ingredients include quercetin; the glycosides arbutin, homoarbutin, isohomoarbutin, hyperin and renifolin; and the phenols chimaphilin, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, gallotannin[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - the only information we have on this species is that it is difficult from seed and germinates infrequently[], and also that germination is better in the wild after there has been a non-intense forest fire[]. We would suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Sow it into soil collected from around an established plant, only just covering the seed, and put the pot in a shady part of a cold frame. Consider baking the seed in the seed compost for a short while (up to 60 minutes) at 50°c[]. Pot up any young seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, once again using soil from around an established plant. Plant out into their permanent positions when the plants are large enough. You should not need to use soil from around an established plant to do this since the soil in the pot will contain the necessary micorrhiza.
Division with great care in the spring[, ]. Pot up the divisions using some soil from around an established plant, grow on in a lightly shaded part of a greenhouse or frame and do not plant out until the plants are growing away vigorously[].