Herb latin name: Clematis buchananiana


Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)



Medicinal use of Clematis buchananiana:

A paste of the roots is used as a poultice to treat swellings caused by inflammation. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of peptic ulcers. The juice is also inhaled to get rid of coughs and colds. A paste of the stem or root bark is kept pressed against the teeth for about 15 minutes to relieve toothache. The juice of the plant is applied externally to cuts and wounds. It is also taken internally in the treatment of indigestion. The leaf juice is taken internally, and is also applied externally to the forehead, in the treatment of coughs and colds. It is also warmed and placed inside the nose when treating sinusitis.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Climber

Height:
6 m
(20 feet)

Flowering:
July to
November

Habitat of the herb:

Warm broad-leaved to cool mixed forests, forest margins, generally growing on small trees and bushes, occasionally over rocks along the sides of streams at elevations of 460 - 3650 metres.

Edible parts of Clematis buchananiana:

Tender young leaves - coked as a vegetable. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The plant is used in Nepal to make marcha, a fermented cake from which an alcoholic beverage is distilled.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed as soon as it is obtained in a cold frame. Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and remove as much of the tail and outer coat as possible. A period of cold stratification is beneficial. The seed germinates in 1 - 9 months or more at 20°C. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Internodal cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood, late spring in sandy soil in a frame. Layering of old stems in late winter or early spring. Layering of current seasons growth in early summer.

Cultivation of Clematis buchananiana:

Warm broad-leaved to cool mixed forests, forest margins, generally growing on small trees and bushes, occasionally over rocks along the sides of streams at elevations of 460 - 3650 metres.

Known hazards of Clematis buchananiana:

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, some if not all members of this genus are mildly poisonous. The toxic principle is dissipated by heat or by drying.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.