Melianthaceae FAMILY

Schoenocaulon officinale

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The seeds contain alkaloids that are poisonous[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].

Botanical Description

Schoenocaulon officinale is a perennial plant growing up to 1 metre tall from an underground bulb. The plant is used locally as an insecticide. The seed has been widely used in the past as a means of ridding the body of both internal and external parasites - large quantities of the seeds used to be exported from Venezuela to Europe.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - Venezuela. Central America - Costa Rica to Mexico.

HabitatBrushy or grassy slopes, usually in pine or oak forest, mostly in rather dry and exposed places, sometimes on moist or wet slopes, chiefly at elevations of 500 - 2,000 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].