Penthorum sedoides - Virginian Stonecrop

Family:	Saxifragaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	N. America - New Brunswick to Florida, west to Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas.

Penthorum sedoides (Virginian Stonecrop) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Virginian Stonecrop will flower in January to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Virginian Stonecrop 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
Virginian Stonecrop prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Virginian Stonecrop can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Low wet ground[43]. Ditches and swamps[235].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Suitable for the waterside or shallow water[1]. This species is included in the family Crassulaceae by some botanists and placed in its own family by others[1].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - cooked[257]. Used as a potherb[257].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
A tincture of the plant is somewhat astringent, demulcent, laxative and tonic[4, 61, 222]. The plant is noted for its effectiveness in treating catarrhal problems of many kinds and has also been used successfully in treating diarrhoea, haemorrhoids and infantile cholera[4]. The seeds have been used in making cough syrups[222, 257].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Demulcent - Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame in pots that are standing in about 3cm of water as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on shallow water in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
F. Chittendon.
Author: F. Chittendon.
Rating:
Publisher : Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
Date of Publication : 1951

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

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