Ethnomedical plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

This relative of ginger is an aromatic medicine, which was often used as an antidote to poisoning.

A true showstopper, Datura metel - also known as Horn-of-Plenty - boasts huge, double trumpet-shaped flowers that spiral outward like a horn, often in a unique mottled purple shade. These blooms are not only spectacular in appearance but also richly fragrant, filling the air from spring through fall.

Growing to 2 3 feet in containers, this fast-growing plant blooms repeatedly in spring, summer, and fall, adding a bold, tropical flair to gardens and patios. It has a long history of medicinal uses (though all parts are toxic if ingested, so admire with care).

With its exotic flowers, intoxicating scent, and lush foliage, Datura metel brings a mystical, surreal beauty to your garden like no other.

Cultivars:

Cornucopea

Double Golden Queen

Double Purple

Double / Triple White

Double Yellow

See artcle about Datura

Native to the Caribbean and grown in USDA Zone 9-11, Koanophyllon villosum, commonly known as Jack-Ma-Da, is an ethnomedical plant that is used in the Caribbean region. It is a large shrub, typically 5-10 ft in height, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. The shrub'âs leaves are a bright green hue and its white, off-white flowers bloom in the summer.

Growing Koanophyllon villosum is relatively easy and it prefers full sun exposure with moderate water. It can also thrive in semi-shade making it a good choice for shady gardens.

In colder regions, Koanophyllon villosum can be grown in a pot in a sheltered spot, such as near a wall or fence. When choosing a pot for the shrub, make sure that the pot and the soil are well-drained. To ensure the shrub thrives, use high quality compost to nourish the soil, making sure not to over water as it can cause root rot.

Koanophyllon villosum is a beautiful addition to any garden. Its hardy nature makes it a great choice for novice gardeners or for those with little time to devote to gardening.

The tree is used for reforestation and is often intercropped in traditional agriculture. In India, it is considered to be an excellent shade tree in coffee and cardamom plantations

Young soft leaves - eaten as a vegetable.

Rare in cultivation, this small tree or bush should get more attention from tropical plant collectors.

The plant is very nice, easy growing and make those "jelly beans" like berries at least twice/year. The flowers are almost unnoticeable. The berries are very showy and come right after. It fruits for several months non stop. Mature fruit is edible.

In native countries, this plant is widely used medicinally. From book "Messages from the Gods. A Guide to the useful plants of Belize": "To treat fever in an infant, fresh leaf is used as a bath or rubbed over the body... To treat babies who can not sleep, often accompanied with crying, especially when they have been frightened by chickens, leaves are mashed, fried and rubbed all over the body..."

Very useful plant especially for those who are afraid of chickens!

It looks sort like an Ardisia, but it not even related.

Mint (Mint sp.) is a perennial herb that belongs to the Mentha genus, which is a large group of well-known herbs that are widely distributed throughout the temperate parts of the world. There are several different species of mint, including:

Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) - This hardy perennial is a very robust grower. Apple mint has interesting light green leaves that are somewhat hairy on the upper surface and downy underneath, with serrated edges. They can grow up to 3 feet high, but should be kept trimmed to a shorter height.

Curly Mint (Mentha spicata variety crispii) - This plant is valued more for its intricately curled, fringed leaves than for its fragrance. The foliage is dark green and lightly splotched with a contrasting lighter green. They can grow up to 2 feet high and are known to be invasive. Chefs often use curly mint for garnishes, but prefer the pleasant flavor of spearmint and peppermint.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) - This creeping mint is used occasionally as a ground cover in cool climates. It has many stems that grow up to 12 inches high and are covered with small, round to oval, dark green leaves. In the summer, it produces bluish-lilac blossoms. Pennyroyal has a pleasant lemony aroma and is used to flavor meat puddings and fish entrees.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) - This spreading plant has a sharp, penetrating yet pleasant, mint aroma. It grows 1 to 2 feet high, but can reach 3 feet when in bloom. The lance-shaped leaves are deeply notched when mature and the flowers are usually purple.

Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata') - Pineapple mint is a variegated hybrid of apple mint with white or cream blotches on its leaves. It does have a slight pineapple scent, but the aroma isn't always detectable. This mint is good for garnishes because the thick leaves are slow to wilt.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) - This plant is similar to peppermint, but has a milder, sweeter flavor. It grows up to 3 feet tall and has dark green, lance-shaped leaves with a pointed tip. The flowers are typically pink or purple.

Water or Bog Mint (Mentha aquatica) - This mint is native to wetland areas and is adapted to growing in wet soil. It has a strong mint aroma and produces small, pink or purple flowers.

Mint is known for its carminative properties, which means that it helps to soothe the digestive system and relieve bloating and gas. It also has antiseptic properties and has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Aromatherapy and massage practitioners often use peppermint essential oil to stimulate circulation, ease muscle fatigue, and reduce pain. The scent of peppermint is said to have a refreshing and invigorating effect, helping to increase alertness and reduce stress.

Peppermint is a popular ingredient in many recipes, and is often used to flavor teas, desserts, and other dishes. It is also used as a garnish or decorative element in culinary dishes. Mint plants are easy to grow and can tolerate a variety of conditions, including full sun or semi-shade locations. It prefers regular watering. Mint plants are also tolerant of occasional flooding and are best grown in USDA Zone 5-10

A spiny shrub or small tree. The flowers are white, honey-fragrant and solitary (3" across). The fruits have a sour, edible pulp. Beautiful white and yellow camellia-like flowers look like 'fried eggs' when they drop off and fall on the ground with their yellow stamens facing upwards. Light tip pruning promotes bushy growth. Flowers attract butterflies. Blooms late spring to summer. The hard-shelled fruits are used as snuff boxes. If the fruit are left to dry with the seeds inside they it make amusing rattles for children and are also used as anklets and armlets for dancers to add rhythm when performing. The pulp of the fruit is edible, but is seldom used for that purpose. In African medicine the roots are used in the treatment of dysentery and bladder complaints. It is said that the seeds contain a drying oil that is suitable for varnish, but it is too difficult to extract to be of any commercial significance. The wood is light brown in color and can take a good polish, but the pieces are seldom large enough to be of any commercial value.

Garcinia spicata is a fast-growing evergreen tree, ideal for small gardens and areas where a few tropical trees are desired. It grows best in full sun, but can tolerate semi-shade. It is one of the few Garcinia that can be grown in semi-protected zones. It prefers regular water, but will tolerate a dry spell if needed.

This lovely plant grows up to 20 feet tall with a head spreading up to 15 feet. The young trees are very attractive, with bright green, glossy leaves and a central stem. With mature plants, the trunks, branches and leaves become more ornamental and the tree takes on a sleek, slim form. The flowers and fruits are also very attractive. The small, greenish-yellow flowers give way to edible orange-yellow fruits that are full of medicinal properties.

Garcinia spicata is an ethnobotanical plant, with many traditional uses in India and Sri Lanka, where it's often known as the "king of fruits". The orange-yellow fruits have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.

In areas with a mild climate, Garcinia spicata can thrive outdoors in zones USDA 10-11. In cooler climates, it is best grown in a large pot in an outdoor sheltered area. The tree is cold hardy down to 30°F for a short time. When planting, make sure the location gets enough sun and water. It is important to prune the tree regularly to keep it in shape, as this plant will become top-heavy if not pruned periodically.

Garcinia spicata is an attractive and adaptable tree that can make a great addition to any garden. Low maintenance, salt tolerant and a great source of edible, medicinal fruits, it is worth considering for any tropical or subtropical garden.

Desert Indigo is great for a butterfly garden.