Clerodendrum trichotomum, Chou Wu Tong, Hardy Clerodendrum

The name Clerodendrum is derived from the Greek word for chance (klero) and tree (dendrum).  This refers back to the tree’s original species name fortunate. The species name, trichotomum, refers to the three-lobed juvenile leaves this species sometimes produces. It is cultivated for its fragrant flowers, autumn color, and ornamental berries. It is hard but requires a sheltered position. Clerodendrum trichotomum was introduced into European cultivation around 1800.  It was described as early as 1916 in an early Danish book on trees and bushes, and it was sold by the Danish nurseryman Aksel Olsen as early as 1928.   It was tried in Hørsholm already in 1937. Our oldest living plants however date from 1977. In some parts of the world, the roots and leaves are also used for medicinal purposes.

Chou Wu Tong Facts

Plant Description

Chou Wu Tong is a large, deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree that normally grows about 3–6 meters (10–20 ft.) tall and may reach 7 m in height in nature. The plant is found growing in thickets on mountain slopes, throughout most of China. The plant prefers a fertile humus-rich well-drained loam. The soil must not be allowed to dry out in the growing season. It is most often seen as a suckering shrub. It must be trained to grow as a tree and is rarely seen growing in that form. As an ornamental, this shrub is perhaps best noted for its late summer flowers, showy fruit and foul-smelling foliage. Bark of the plant is grey and smooth with many lenticels.

Leaves

The leaves are situated opposite on the shoots. Leaves are variable in size, and considerably larger on young plants than on adult ones. They are ovate or oval, 10-23 cm long and 5-10 cm wide, occasionally toothed, soft, with scattered down beneath, and flaccid. Stalks are downy, 1 to 4 in. long. The lower leaves are sometimes deeply two or three lobed towards the apex. The upper surface of the leaf is deep green with some bristly hairs and the lower surface is lighter green with hairs especially on the veins. When bruised, the leaves do produce a unique aroma reminiscent of peanut butter as memorialized by the sometimes used common name of peanut butter tree for this plant.

Flower

Flowers are fragrant, produced from July to September in long-stalked cymes from the axils of the uppermost leaves, the whole forming an erect inflorescence 6 to 9 in. across. The corolla is white, 1 to 11⁄2 in. across, deeply 5 lobed with a rather long corolla tube, and long stamens and styles that project out of the flower some distance.  Calyx is reddish, 1⁄2 in. long, inflated, five-angled, and five-lobed. The flowers are strongly fragrant and are reported to attract butterflies and moths.  Flowering occurs over an extended period from and can occur simultaneously with ripening fruit.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by pea sized berry like fruit surrounded by the persistent star shaped crimson calyx whose lobes have become fleshy and spreading. They are initially white, but become bright blue and then dark blue as they mature. The color is due to the presence of a unique blue pigment, named trichtomine after the plant

Traditional uses and benefits of Chou Wu Tong

• Leaves are mildly pain?-relieving medicine. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যথানাশক ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="analgesic" data-rx-definition="An analgesic is a pain-relieving medicine. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যথানাশক ওষুধ।">analgesic?, antipruritic, hypotensive and sedative.
• They are used externally in the treatment of dermatitis and internally for the treatment of hypertension?, pain?, swelling?, stiffness?, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis?: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune? joint disease causing infection?, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="rheumatoid arthritis" data-rx-definition="Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">rheumatoid arthritis?, joint pain, numbness? and paralysis.
• The plant is normally used in conjunction with Bidens bipinnata.
• When used with the herb Siegesbeckia pubescens it is infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory?.
• Roots and leaves are anti-rheumatic and hypotensive.
• Decoction is used in the treatment of pain?, swelling?, stiffness?, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis?: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune? joint disease causing infection?, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="rheumatoid arthritis" data-rx-definition="Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">rheumatoid arthritis? and hypertension?.
• The pounded seed is used to kill lice.
• In Chinese herbal medicine, chou wu tong is recommended for joint pain?, numbness?, and paralysis, and occasionally for eczema.
• Traditionally regarded as a plant that “dispels wind dampness,” it is now also being used to help lower blood pressure.
• The plant is mildly pain?-relieving medicine. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যথানাশক ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="analgesic" data-rx-definition="An analgesic is a pain-relieving medicine. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যথানাশক ওষুধ।">analgesic? and, when used with the herb Siegesbeckia pubescens, is infection?, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory?.
• This species also known as a medicine-plant which has a proven ability to lower blood pressure.

Other facts

• The leaves have a heavy unpleasant odor when crushed.
• The wood has been used to make clogs and the berries to make dyes.
• It’s beautiful and fragrant white flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, honeybees, hummingbirds, and many other pollinators.

References