Common Name: Lu Ti Cao

General Information

Pyrola elegantula is an evergreen perennial plant with a long, slender, 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 14 - 25cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - eastern China (Guangdong, Fujian)

Habitat

Mountain forests; at elevations from 1,200 - 1,800 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Pyrola elegantula
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

None known

Medicinal

Lu Ti Cao is sweet and bitter in taste, warm in property. The plant is often used for the treatment of rheumatism, arthralgia, weakness of the waist and knee, menorrhagia, chronic coughing, haematemesis, metrorrhagia, and traumatic bleeding[].
For external treatment, the fresh leaves are mashed and applied as a poultice to the affected areas[].
The whole plants are harvested in the summer and autumn and dried in the sun[].

The herb is used in China as a regional substitute for Pyrola calliantha (Lu Xian Cao)[]

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[].