Phryma leptostachya - Lopseed

Family:	Phrymaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.4
Synonyms:
Range:	E. Asia - Himalayas to China and Japan. Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Manitoba and Florida.

Phryma leptostachya (Lopseed) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.4m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Lopseed 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

Lopseed 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
Lopseed prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Woods and thickets[222]. Woods in hills and at low elevations in mountains all over 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

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. We have no details of its cultivation needs, though it is likely to succeed in a lightly shaded site, possibly in a woodland.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A tea made from the roots was gargled as a treatment for sore throats and was drunk in the treatment of rheumatism, fevers etc[222, 257]. It is also depurative[147]. A poultice made from the roots is applied to sores, boils, carbuncles and cancers[222].

• Antirheumatic - Treats rheumatism.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in late winter in a cold greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse 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 might also be possible[K].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The plant is considered to be insecticidal[222]. No more details were given.

• Insecticide - Kills insects.

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

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

Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Author: Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Rating: http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Publisher : An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
Date of Publication : 1999

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