2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Broad-leaved spindle tree (lat. Euonymus latifolius) - upright ornamental shrub; species of the genus Euonymus of the family Euonymus. It is found in thickets of bushes, gorges, valleys, on the slopes and in the shady mountain forests of the Caucasus, Southern Europe and Asia Minor. In Russia, it grows in Crimea mainly in hornbeam and beech forests. It is very poisonous, and this applies not only to fruits, like in other species, but also to branches.
Characteristics of culture
Broad-leaved euonymus is a short tree or shrub up to 5 m high with an erect, spreading densely branched crown and yellowish-green young shoots covered with black lenticels. Branches are round, smooth, rather long, rod-shaped, purple-brown in color. Leaves are bright green, glabrous, ovate, elliptical or oblong-elliptical, pointed at the tip, dentate or crenate along the edge, rarely entire, have a wide-wedge-shaped base, up to 12 cm long, sitting on grooved petioles. On the underside, the leaves are lighter, often with a reddish or yellowish main vein.
The flowers are numerous, inconspicuous, greenish-white, up to 1 cm in diameter, have a pronounced odor that negatively affects a person. Flowers are collected in forked-branched apical semi-umbellate inflorescences of 7-15 pieces, equipped with thin reddish peduncles. The fruit is a five-lobed flat-rounded box of bright carmine color, up to 1.5 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide, formed in huge quantities, looks very impressive against the background of green foliage. The blades of the capsule are compressed from the sides, and smoothly turn into smooth wings, which have a rounded trapezoidal shape.
The seeds are medium, white (which is not typical for other species), completely immersed in orange or saffron-orange seedlings. Broad-leaved euonymus blooms in June, fruits ripen in September. The species is shade-tolerant, winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -29C, suitable for growing in central Russia. Just like other representatives of the genus, it is valued for its high decorative properties, however, it is extremely rarely grown on personal household plots, perhaps this is due to the strong smell that the flowers emit and the toxicity of all parts of the plant.
Medical use
For pharmacological purposes, leaves, fruits and roots of broadleaf euonymus are used. The leaves contain a large amount of crategolic acid, cyclotol dulcite, sitosterol steroid, theobromine alkaloid, flavonoids (meratin, quercimerithrin, quercetin, isoquercitin) and other substances. The fruits are rich in linoleic, oleic, palmitic, lauric, caprylic, stearic acids, sesquiterpene alcohol and kaempferol derivatives. The seeds contain a fatty oil.
Infusions of fruits are used as a stimulant of sexual activity and laxative, infusions from the leaves are effective for scabies, head lice and helminthiasis. A decoction from the bark of the plant is used for heart disease, and in combination with alcohol - for hypertension. All decoctions and tinctures from parts of broadleaf euonymus have a hypotensive effect. Decoctions from the branches are distinguished by their calming properties, they are useful for migraines and neuroses. Decoctions from the leaves boast a diuretic effect, decoctions from the fruits are used as an expectorant.
As you know, all types of euonymus are poisonous. Despite the fact that the fruits of the plant are outwardly beautiful and attractive, their use can lead to poisoning, which is accompanied by severe vomiting, cramps and loss of strength. When the first sign appears, gastric lavage is performed, after which activated charcoal or any other drug that is able to improve the work of the gastrointestinal tract is taken. When treating with decoctions and infusions of broadleaf euonymus, it is imperative to consult a doctor, otherwise there is a high risk of poisoning.
Use in the garden
Broad-leaved spindle tree for landscaping gardens and parks is used less often than all other representatives of the genus. However, its application can be very diverse. This is due to the versatility of shrubs, because they are perfectly combined with other shrubs and trees, and are suitable for composing mixed compositions of various kinds, including in alliance with herbaceous annuals and conifers. They can be used to create hedges and spatial arrays in combination with barberry, lilac and chubushnik.
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