Herb latin name: Coriaria napalensis


Family: Coriariaceae



Medicinal use of Coriaria napalensis:

The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of stomach aches. Some cauion is advised - see notes above on toxicity.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Shrub

Height:
2.5 m
(8 1/4 foot)

Flowering:
May

Habitat of the herb:

Forests and shrubberies, mainly on the outskirts of the forests, 1000 - 2700 metres. Plants are found at elevations up to 3300 metres in Sikkim.

Edible parts of Coriaria napalensis:

Fruit - raw or used as a beverage. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed, are very toxic. Some reports suggest it is safer not to use the fruit at all. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter.

Other uses of the herb:

The wood contains a considerable quantity of tannin. The leaves contain 20% tannin. The branches are used for making baskets. Wood - hard, beautifully marked, takes a good polish. Used for picture frames and other small articles.

Propagation of Coriaria napalensis:

Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°C. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage.

Cultivation of the herb:

Forests and shrubberies, mainly on the outskirts of the forests, 1000 - 2700 metres. Plants are found at elevations up to 3300 metres in Sikkim.

Known hazards of Coriaria napalensis:

The seed is poisonous. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that other parts of the plant are also toxic.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.