Description
It’s a herbaceous annual vining plant that might spread as long as 10 m. Leaves are big, heart-shaped at the base, divided in 5 lobes. The plant is supported by strong and long steeped umbels. The leaves are rough as they are all covered with rigid and multiple hairs. It can support itself from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface, especially before carrying any fruit. Unisexual yellow flowers with a funnel-shaped corolla; (monoecious plant); calyx is connected to the corolla by the same nerve net, which are raised and notorious in the corolla, running through until the ends of it. Male flowers have five stamens which form one spinal cord. This spinal cord is composed by two pairs of two stamens joined to each other and a lose one, but the five got together in one piece. Anthers are compressed in one single body of 1.5 to 2 cm in length. Sphere shaped fruits come in many different shapes, depending on the species and hold numerous flat seeds.
It blooms in summer. Is indigenous of America, but nowadays it’s cultivated in the whole world. The drug produce from this plant is exported to Russia and Yugoslavia, as well as Turkey, China, Australia and Mexico.
Part used
Its seeds, peeled and grinded.
Indications
> Irritable bladder, discomfort associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
> Intestinal parasitic disease: especially cestodes (tapeworm), ascari, pinworm. The use of laxatives is advisable to promote their ejection.
Bibliography
Plantas Medicinales. Thérapeutique-Toxicité. Christiane Vigneau. Masson, Paris 1985.
Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed). Max Wichtl. CRC Press.1994.
Plantas Medicinales y Drogas Vegetales para infusión y tisana. Edición española a cargo de: Salvador Cañigueral, Roser Vila, Max Wichtl.1998.
Fitoterapia Aplicada. JB Peris, G Stübing, B Vanaclocha. Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Valencia. 1995.
The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.
Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Publishing.
El libro de las Plantas Medicinales. M. Pahlow.
Fitoterapia: Vademecum de Prescripción. Plantas Medicinales. B Vanaclocha. S Cañigueral. Editorial Masson 4ª edición.
Pharmacognosy 9th edition. Varro E. Tyler – Lynn R. Brady – James E. Robbers.
Plantes Médicinales des régions tempérees. L. Bézanger-Beauquesne et M. Pinkas. M. Torch et F.Trotin. Maloine S.A. Editeur. Paris 1980.
Guía de Campo de las Flores de Europa. Oleg Polunin. Ediciones Omega S.A. Barcelona, 1977.
Las Plantas Medicinales de la Provincia de Cádiz. Paz Martín Ferrero.
Plantas y Flores Medicinales/2. Aldo Poletti.
Guía de las Plantas Medicinales. Paul Schanenberg / Ferdinand Paris.
