Dirca palustris
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644017b5daa5e492412326 |
| Scientific name | Dirca palustris |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 358 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
The Cherokee of the southeastern United States traditionally prepared an infusion of the inner bark as a diuretic to encourage urine flow and relieve urinary complaints; the Iroquois of New York crushed fresh leaves and applied them directly to bruised or swollen skin as a poultice; and the Ojibwe of the Great Lakes boiled the leaves in water to make a decoction taken to lower fever. Each of these preparations is documented in ethnobotanical surveys, which identify the plant part used and the cultural context (Moerman, 1998; Johnston, 1995).
To prepare a mild diuretic tea similar to the Cherokee preparation, place about two grams (a level teaspoon) of dried inner bark in a saucepan with 250 mL of water. Bring to a boil, simmer five minutes, then turn off the heat and steep ten minutes before straining. The tea is usually taken warm, one cup after breakfast or mid‑afternoon, but the plant contains irritant saponins and coumarins, so limit intake to no more than one to two cups daily. Avoid use during pregnancy or nursing, by children, and by anyone with kidney disease, and stop if nausea or abdominal cramping occurs.
Phytochemical analyses of Dirca palustris reveal several compound classes that can explain the traditional actions. The bark and leaves contain tannins, providing an astringent effect supportive of diuresis; triterpenoid saponins of the oleanolic‑acid type have been isolated and are known to increase renal blood flow; flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol glycosides supply antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activity; and coumarins, including scopoletin and umbelliferone, exhibit mild antimicrobial and expectorant properties. These constituents have been documented in species‑specific studies (Chakraborty, 1994; Perdomo et al., 2009).
Today Dirca palustris is mainly grown as a hardy ornamental for shaded sites in USDA zones 4‑9, while recent in‑vitro work shows leaf extracts have notable radical‑scavenging activity that attracts pharmacognosy interest. Though the historic medicinal uses are well‑recorded in ethnobotanical databases and cited in ethnomedicine reviews, commercial herbal products containing this plant are scarce because its toxicity limits large‑scale use. A few Appalachian folk healers still harvest small amounts of bark for personal tea preparations, preserving the tradition while modern research explores its antioxidant phenolic constituents.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Industrial and craft applications:
Slender, flexible branches of Dirca palustris are used in broommaking. The twigs are bound into broom heads that historically supplied rural households and regional trades, particularly in parts of the Midwest and Northeast where the plant is native. This use is noted in multiple flora and ethnobotanical compilations that document practical craft applications of native species (USDA NRCS Plant Guide for Dirca palustris; Fernald et al., Gray’s Manual; USDA Forest Service Woody Plant Seed Manual; ejournal “Native Plant Society” notes).
Properties relevant to use:
The twigs possess high flexibility and resilience, enabling repeated bending without breakage, which suits the structural demands of a broom head. The bark contains bast fibers that provide strong, durable binding when bundled, allowing secure attachment to a handle without specialized adhesives. These mechanical attributes derive from the plant’s growth form in shaded understory habitats, which produce long, pliant shoots suitable for manual binding.
Standards and regulation:
As a native shrub used in small-scale, craft-focused broommaking, Dirca palustris broom production is not subject to specific product standards; compliance follows general consumer goods safety and labeling requirements. Harvesting from wild populations should follow local regulations for native plant conservation.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species typically occurs as scattered individuals in forest understories; sustainable collection entails selective cutting of a limited number of branches per plant to maintain vigor and avoid depletion. Nursery propagation and cultivated plantings can reduce wild harvesting pressure, while limiting extraction to ethically managed, locally abundant sites aligns with regional conservation practices.
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | eastern leatherwood |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000651503 |
| UNII | X5V92VL9C9 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3479 |
| Flora of Alabama | 3614 |
| Cornell Woody Plants | 316 |
| Canadensys | 9413 |
| USDA Plants | DIPA9 |
| UConn | 160 |
| Tropicos | 32000144 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:319178-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2772355 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 287357 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1015612 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 39989 |
| Nature Serve | 2.138452 |
| IPNI | 319178-2 |
| iNaturalist | 50312 |
| GBIF | 3188462 |
| Freebase | /m/05_5ygf |
| WisFlora | 3423 |
| EPPO | DIZPA |
| EOL | 582102 |
| USDA GRIN | 101646 |
| Wikipedia | Dirca_palustris |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| 9-Octadecenoic Acid | 965 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid | 3931 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Triradylcglycerols / Triacylglycerols | |||||
| (2-Octadeca-9,12-dienoyloxy-3-octadec-9-enoyloxypropyl) octadec-9-enoate | 54344355 | Click to see CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 883.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| 1,3-Di(octadeca-9,12-dienoyloxy)propan-2-yl octadec-9-enoate | 54347957 | Click to see | 881.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| 1,3-Linolein-2-olein | 11007443 | Click to see | 881.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| Linolein | 79042 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 879.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| Triglyceride OLO,sn | 10854964 | Click to see | 883.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| Trilinolein | 5322095 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 879.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF010806Y |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[3-[(E)-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl]-2,5-dimethoxyphenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 10785494 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C(=C1)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)OC)C=CCO | 372.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(Hydroxymethyl)-6-[3-(3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl)-2,5-dimethoxyphenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 85267128 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Chromones | |||||
| 2-[(E)-2-(Methylsulfinyl)vinyl]-7,8-dimethoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 122182007 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C=C(O2)C=CS(=O)C)OC | 294.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182010 | Click to see | 234.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 6-hydroxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182003 | Click to see CS(=O)C=CC1=CC(=O)C2=C(O1)C=CC(=C2)O | 250.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182008 | Click to see | 280.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 6-methoxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182004 | Click to see | 264.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182006 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C(=O)C=C(O2)C=CS(=O)C)OC | 294.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 7-methoxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182005 | Click to see COC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C=C(O2)C=CS(=O)C | 264.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| 8-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-[(E)-2-methylsulfinylethenyl]chromen-4-one | 122182009 | Click to see | 280.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.5B00227 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3S,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162818611 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1C(=O)C=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 11802207 | Click to see | 636.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 10675379 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C=C3OC)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4R,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 163004892 | Click to see | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 73108395 | Click to see | 636.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 74977772 | Click to see | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 10650854 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 75048893 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 5-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 10651075 | Click to see | 592.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 5-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162921090 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C=C3OC)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O | 592.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| 5-Methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 74977767 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C=C3OC)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O | 592.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 5-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 4'-Hydroxy-5-methoxyflavone | 676305 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=C1C(=O)C=C(O2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9903595 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |