Calycanthaceae FAMILY

Calycanthus occidentalis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Calycanthus contains calycanthine, an alkaloid similar to strychnine, and it is toxic to humans and livestock[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].

Botanical Description

Calycanthus occidentalis is a loose-habited, deciduous shrub with a suckering habit and forming colonies in the wild; it can grow up to 4 metres tall[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a food flavouring. It is grown as an ornamental, valued for its aromatic foliage and flowers.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - Washington, northern and central California.

HabitatBanks of streams, ponds and other wet places below 1200 metres[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 184 Title Shrubs. Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books Year 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2 Description Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars. ]. Along streams and on moist canyon slopes; at elevations from 200 - 1,600 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].