new plant questions

[NikkyStudent]

Hello, i have what i thought was wild sunflower growing in my garden. except when it bloomed its was so i used a plant app and identified the plant as ; common names: velvet leaf, Chinese jute, crown weed, lantern mallow, butterprint, pie-maker, Indian mallow

(Abutilon theophrasti ) botanical name.

according to what i found China has been cultivating it, the leaves are edible in stir fry or in omelettes. the seeds are edible the stalk makes rope,nets, paper, and rough cloth.

medicinally it has been used for dysentery and opacity of the cornea and can treat eye injuries. the leaves contain 0.01% of rutin and used as a soothing,lubricant treatment that softens irritated tissues. tea made of dry leaves used for dysentery and fevers. When the leaves are softened can be used as a poultice remedy for ulcers. the bark, an astringent and diuretic can reduce the flow of body fluids such as blood,secretions, mucous. tea made from dried root for dysentery and urinary incontinence. the seeds powdered and eaten in treatment of dysentery,stomach-aches, ect. it it demulcent, diuretic, emollient,laxative.

this is all I’ve been able to find about the medicinal properties there is one big thing that really worries me the seeds are viable for 70 years, and it considered a noxious weed in Washington any part of the plant cannot be shipped. the plant also causes BIG :scared: problems with crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, and others according to Wikipedia, when destroyed its said to release achemical oder that send to surrounding crops to inhibit seed germination. So…. with all that said is there a lot “friendly” plants that does everything this plant does? I’m still not sure why it ended up in my yard when we’ve lived here (same house) for 16 years and have never seen it. some help would be appreciated thanks

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I haven’t used it.

Be aware too that some of the plant ID apps can sometimes give a wrong answer. I’d only use them as a starting point.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[NikkyStudentTopic Author]

Thank you

Doc Jones wrote: I haven’t used it.

Be aware too that some of the plant ID apps can sometimes give a wrong answer. I’d only use them as a starting point.

Yes i have found that to be true, what i have done is used an ap called plant snap that takes a picture of the plant and attempts to identify it, then i take that picture and cross reference it with the app. the information of this new plant I ID shows up on Wikipedia

and other searches to research this plant. including pictures. the thing i’m mostly worried about is if other herbs we grow here can do the same thing this one can than I don’t want this one to spread and i will destroy it. its just weird that i have lived in the same house for 16 years and been all around this area and have never seen it before, I don’t know if that means something of why it chose to show up in my garden or not. according to Wikipedia its been grown in Chine since 2000 BCE and is still cultivated today. maybe if i had i herbalist in china i could consult I would but I don’t know of any one.

Thanks again for your help Doc I Really appreciate your teaching and your classes.

[Author]

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