Wisteria sinensis
Wisteria sinensis
Safety & Hazards
The seed of all members of this genus is poisonous[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The bark contains a glycoside and a resin that are both poisonous[ 218 Title Medicinal Plants of China Publication Author Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Publisher Reference Publications, Inc. Year 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4 Description Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject. ]. The seed and seedpod contain a resin and a glycoside called wisterin. Toxic in large quantities, causing nausea, vomitting, stomach pain and diarrhoea[ 292 Title People Plants Database Publication Author Website https://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/default.aspx Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An online database of New Zealand plants and their Maori names and uses. An excellent information source. ]. Their consumption has caused the poisoning of children in many countries, producing mild to severe gastro-enteritis[ 249 Title Wisterias: a comprehensive guide. Publication Author Valder. P. Publisher Florilegium. Australia. Year 1995 ISBN 0-646-22049-7 Description Excellent information and photographs of this genus with a little bit about their uses. , 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ].
Botanical Description
Wisteria sinensis is a vigorous, deciduous climbing shrub capable of growing to the tops of tall trees and also scrambling sideways. The trunks of old plants can exceed 150cm in diameter[ 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. ]. When given space, old specimens can spread laterally for 35 metres or more from each side of the main stem[ 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. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especialy for its floral display in the late spring. Wisteria sinensis is widely grown as an ornamental and has often escaped and become naturalized. It is considered to be a noxious weed in parts of the USA[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ].