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What plant stimulated hair growth?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 5, 2007

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The yellow leafcup or bear'sfoot (Smallanthus uvedalia (L.) Mackenzie ex Small = Polymnia uvedalia (L.) L.) is native to the U.S. ranging from central Florida north to New York, west to Michigan and southwest to Texas. It is a large, shrub-like perennial native to moist open woodlands and was probably more common when forests covered much of the land.

Plant of the Week 01/29/2007

Bear'sfoot (Smallanthus uvedalia)
Plant of the Week 01/29/2007

The leaves, lobed and maple-like, are rough. Crushed, the leaves have a clean, light pine-woodsy scent. The essential oil from the leaves contain at least 57 compounds, the majority are terpenes: [alpha] and [beta]-pinenes, germacrene D, camphene, and [beta]-caryophyllene.

The Cherokee and Iroquois tribes certainly knew bear'sfoot. The bruised root was used as a topical treatment for burns and cuts; mixed into lard, bear'sfoot root became an ointment for 'itches'. The root and stem, steeped, were given as an analgesic for rheumatism, back pain, fevers, and to induce vomiting. The smoke of the burning root was a fumigant—it would drive away ghosts and provide a night of sleep untroubled by nightmares.

Dr. Harvey Wickes Felter (1922) knew bear'sfoot under the name Linnaeus gave it, Polymnia uvedalia. Doctors and pharmacists called the plant, Uvedalia, the infusion or extract,
Plant of the Week 01/22/2007

Bay Rum Tree (Pimenta racemosa)
Plant of the Week 01/22/2007

Specific Medicine Polymnia, and the ointment made with lard, Unguentum Polymnia.

Felter recommended the Specific Medicine Polymnia for liver problems, dyspepsia (indigestion, upset stomach), and general and malarial cachexia (morbidity or poor condition of the body due to prolonged disease). He wrote that the ointment rubbed on the abdomen reduced an 'engorged' spleen. But he added a caveat: "Large doses of polymnia are said to produce painful emeto-catharsis, gastro-intestinal inflammation, convulsions and death."

Long before we had topical minoxidil (Rogaine®), Felter emphatically stated, "Uvedalia stimulates the growth of hair." He recommended two fluid ounces of Specific Medicine Polymnia mixed with six fluid ounces of Bay Rum. (See Plant of the Week, January 22, 2007). The prescribed use was to "Rub thoroughly into the scalp once or twice a day."

Dan Tenaglia's Missouri Plants has a page dedicated to Smallanthus uvedalia (aka Polymnia uvedalia). To view numerous photographs showing leaves and flowers of bear'sfoot, click on the link:

http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowopp/Polymnia_uvedalia_page.html

Hi, Dan!

(Compiled from: "Composition of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Smallanthus maculatus (Cav.) H. Rob. (Asteraceae)", Jose F. Ciccio, Journal of Essential Oil Research, Allured Publishing, 2004; "255. Smallanthus Mackenzie ex Small", Flora of North America, Volume 21, eFloras; Cherokee Plants and their Uses—A 400 Year History, Paul B. Hamel and Mary U. Cheltoskey, Herald Publishing, Sylvia, NC, 1975; "Iroquois Medical Botany", James W. Herrick, PhD Thesis, State University of New York, Albany, 1977; "Polymnia", The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., 1922, published to the internet by Henriette's Herbal website)

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Yellow Waxbells

Spring Hill Nursery®

This elegant shrub-like perennial, from the woodlands of Japan, is rarely seen in America. Maple-like leaves are set along purple stems; waxy, pale yellow flowers 1 1/2" long appear in late summer. Grows 24-48", spreads 24-32".

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Kirengeshoma palmata

Zone 5 to 9

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Unique Characteristics: Clump forming perennial from the woodlands of Japan. Rarely seen in America. Shrub-like plant has maple-like leaves along purple stems, with elegantly arching yellow cymes at the top of the plant.

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Giant Chinese Lantern

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Papery, orange-red "lanterns" add whimsy to the midsummer garden! Features extra-large calyces (lanterns) on upright, shrubby plants 36-40" tall. The Giant Chinese Lantern dries nicely for winter arrangements. Space plants 36-42" apart.

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Physalis franchetii 'Gigantea'

Zone 5 to 8

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Unique Characteristics: Grown for its orange-red inflated papery calyces, which can be dried for winter arrangements. Cut the stems as the calyces begin to color. (Not grown for the flowers, the flowers are small and inconspicuous.) Nice upright shrubby habit.

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Cimicifuga, 'Dark Star'

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Striking at the back of a border or in a woodland garden! Clump-forming plants up to 6' tall have beautiful, reddish-purple foliage with deeply cut edges. Flowers in late summer, sending up creamy-white, bottlebrush type blooms. Space plants 18-24" apart.

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Cimicifuga racemosa 'Atropurpurea'

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Unique Characteristics: Very tall, clump forming perennial with beautiful reddish-purple foliage. Creamy white bottle brush type blooms stand tall above dark foliage. Nice specimen plant for the back of a perennial border.

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Pink Azalea Bonsai Collection

Spring Hill Nursery®

One of the most colorful plants used in the art of bonsai! Easy-to-train plant is covered with trumpet-shaped pink flowers in spring. Deciduous foliage turns brilliant shades of scarlet to yellow in fall before dropping.

Rhododendron obtusum

To help you get maximum enjoyment from your bonsai, we offer this special training kit which includes everything you will need to create your living masterpiece!

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Bleeding Heart, Gold Heart

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One of the most beautiful and enchanting of flowers! Graceful, arching stems carry deep pink, heart shaped blooms for several weeks and provide early color in the shade garden. Delicate foliage is golden when it first emerges, becomes a golden yellow as it matures and finally fades to lime green. 18-24” tall.

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Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’

Zone 4 to 8

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Hydrangea, All Summer Beauty

Spring Hill Nursery®

All the beauty and romance of other large flowered hydrangeas but so much more rewarding to grow! All Summer Beauty is covered with big, blooms of deep blue (in acid soil) or soft pink (in alkaline soil) from midsummer often until frost. Best of all, you can count on getting those fabulous blooms form on the current season’s growth- not on that of the previous year.

Therefore, harsh winters or late spring frosts are not a problem for this hydrangea! These handsome plants have large, glossy green leaves and grow 3-5’

tall with a similar spread- just right for mixed borders, foundation planting or a low-growing hedge. Sensational for long-lasting fresh and dried bouquets!

Shipped in 3” pot. Deer tend to avoid.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘All Summer Beauty’

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Unique Characteristics: Large, bold flower heads. High flower count and long bloom period. Enjoy a deep sky blue in acidic soil or soft pink in more alkaline soil. Very hardy, great for more northern gardens because this variety flowers off the current season's growth where other 'mophead' varieties have flower buds form on previous year's growth. Harsh winters are not a problem for flower production. High flower count and long bloom period are its key points.

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