Melanthium virginicum - Bunchflower

Family:	Melanthiaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.7
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - New York to Florida, Texas and Indiana.

Melanthium virginicum (Bunchflower) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.7m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Bunchflower will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Bunchflower 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
Bunchflower prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bunchflower can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Lowland prairies and moist open woods[228].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

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

Cultivation Details

Requires a deep fertile moisture retentive humus-rich soil[200]. Succeeds in full sun if the soil does not dry out but prefers a position in semi-shade[200]. Dislikes dry soils[42]. Grows best in a cool woodland garden or a north facing border[42]. Succeeds in acid soils in a bog garden[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root has been used to kill internal parasites[207].

• Anthelmintic - Expels parasites from the gut.

Propagation

Unless the seed is stored in damp sand at around 4°c it has a short viability[200]. Where possible it is best to sow the seed in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[200]. Stored seed needs to be cold stratified but can be very slow to germinate. Germination can be erratic even for seed sown when it was fresh, it usually takes place within 3 - 12 months at 15°c but can be much longer[200]. Sow the seed thinly so that it can be grown on in the pot without disturbance for the first couple of years. Give an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure the plants do not become nutrient deficient. The plant produces just one seed leaf in its first year, this forms an over-wintering bulb. At the end of the second year's growth, pot up the over-wintering bulbs, placing one or two bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame for at least another couple of years before planting them out into their permanent positions. It takes up to 10 years for the plant to reach maturity[200]. Division in March/April or in October. Establish the plants in pots in a shaded frame before planting them out[200]. Root cuttings, 6mm long with a bud, rooted in a sandy soil in a cold frame[200].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are highly toxic[207].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

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 the Great Plains.
McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M.
Author: McGregor. R. L. & Barkley. T. M.
Rating:
Publisher : A useful source of habitats.
Date of Publication : 1986

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