Angelica acutiloba - Dong Dang Gui

Family:	Umbelliferae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.7
Synonyms:	A. ibukicola. Ligustrum acutilobum. Sieb.&Zucc. L. ibukicola. Sium triternatum.
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan.

Angelica acutiloba (Dong Dang Gui) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.7m . It has a hardness rating of 7and is vunerable to frost.
Dong Dang Gui will flower in March to April. the seeds ripen from April to May
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Dong Dang Gui will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Dong Dang Gui prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Dong Dang Gui can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Mountains, C. Japan[58].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

Requires a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[200]. Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[200]. Cultivated as a medicinal plant in Japan[58, 275].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young leaves - cooked[177].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is emmenagogue, oxytocic, sedative and tonic. It is used in the treatment of women's complaints[61, 174, 218] and also eases dizziness[61].

• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Oxytoxic - Hastens parturition and stimulates uterine contractions. See also birthing aids.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
• Women's complaints - A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability[200]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[200]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring. The seed can also be sow in situ as soon as it is ripe.

Known Hazards

All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis[238].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Ohwi. G.
Author: Ohwi. G.
Rating:
Publisher : The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1965

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of Japan

Author:
Rating: www.foj.info
Publisher : An on-line version of the flora - an excellent resource.
Date of Publication : 0

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