We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Bryonia dioica - Jacq.

Common Name Red Bryony, Cretan bryony
Family Cucurbitaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards All parts of the plant are poisonous[7, 65]. One report says it is very toxic[10], another says it is of very low toxicity[76]. The fresh root is a severe skin irritant[238].
Habitats Scrub and woodland, especially on well-drained soils, avoiding acid soils[7, 17].
Range Central and southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Bryonia dioica Red Bryony, Cretan bryony


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bryonia_dioica_Sturm64.jpg
Bryonia dioica Red Bryony, Cretan bryony
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Botaurus

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bryonia dioica is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 3.5 m (11ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

B. cretica dioica. (Jacq.)Tutin.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Young shoots - must be cooked[2, 105]. They are eaten in spring. Caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above regarding toxicity.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Cathartic  Cytotoxic  Diaphoretic  Expectorant  Hydrogogue  Irritant  Pectoral  Purgative  
Vermifuge

A powerful cathartic and purgative, bryony is used with great caution in present-day herbalism[254]. It is primarily prescribed for painful rheumatic conditions[254]. The root is cathartic, cytotoxic, diaphoretic, expectorant, hydrogogue, irritant, pectoral, purgative and vermifuge[4, 9, 19, 21, 46, 165]. It is used in small quantities internally in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, bronchial complaints, asthma, intestinal ulcers, hypertension and arthritis[238]. Externally, it is applied as a rubefacient to muscular and joint pains and pleurisy[238]. The root, which can be 75cm long and 75mm thick[268], can be used fresh at any time of the year[7], it can also be harvested in the autumn and be dried for later use[4]. This plant should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. See the notes above on toxicity. The whole herb has an antiviral effect[254].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A rapid grower, it is of easy cultivation succeeding in most soils that are well drained[1], avoiding acid soils in the wild[17]. Prefers a sunny position[238]. A very deep-rooted climbing plant[7], attaching itself to other plants by means of tendrils[4]. The plant is not eaten by rabbits[17]. Plants can be easily encouraged by scattering ripe seed along the base of hedgerows[200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bryonia albaWhite BryonyPerennial Climber4.0 5-9 FLMHSNM120

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Jacq.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Bryonia dioica  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.