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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Know about the Black Bryony (Ladies Seal)
    Herbs and Spices

    Know about the Black Bryony (Ladies Seal)

    By SylviaFebruary 5, 2018Updated:March 15, 2019No Comments5 Mins Read
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    Know about the Black Bryony (Ladies Seal)

    Dioscorea communis commonly known as Black bryony, Black bindweed, Lady’s-seal, Norça and bryony is a species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae and is native to the southern and central Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia, from Ireland to the Canary Islands, east to Iran and Crimea. The name of the species comes from the Latin “communis”, and means common, diffused, known. It is a climbing hedgerow and woodland edge plant which is actually highly poisonous that flowers between May and August and produces red and shiny berries that can be seen, covered in frost, in winter.

    Plant Description

    Black Bryony (Ladies Seal) is a climbing herbaceous plant that grows about 2–4m (6.5-13ft) tall. The plant is normally found growing in forest understory, from the sea to the mountains, usually in dense woods, but it can also be found in meadows and hedges. It prefers sandy, loamy and clay soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant also prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. The plant has a large, fleshy root that is almost cylindrical with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm. The root is 6 to 8 cm long and has scattered, thin root fibers. Externally, the root is blackish-brown. Internally, it is whitish and produces a slimy paste when it is peeled. Stem is very long, slender, angular or round, branched. Weak stems twins clockwise around anything within reach, climbing or creeping amongst trees, bushes and undergrowth. The stem dies back in winter but the root is perennial.

    Leaves

    Leaves are heart-shaped pointed 10cm long by 8cm wide (4in by 3in), with a petiole up to 5cm (2in) long, are smooth with a shiny appearance as if they have been varnished, turning dark purple or bright yellow, the stems die down in the winter. 

    Flower & Fruit

    The flowers have a bell-shaped perianth, and are small, yellowish-green, and regular, in axillary racemes on long stalks. The plant is dioecious. The male flowers are solitary or grouped in slender racemes, branched at the base, with 6 stamens inserted on the base of the perianth-segments. The female flowers are in shorter racemes, bent back, few-flowered, with a perianth adhering to the ovary, and short functionless stamens. The bracts are very small. The limb of the perianth is 5-partite. There is a single style. Flowers are found on various plants in fertile and infertile form. The fertile flowers develop into crimson berries. Berries are initially green and are scarlet red when ripe. The berry is oblong, few-seeded, and imperfectly 3-celled. Each berry contains (3) 6 globose seeds of red-brick or brownish color.

    Black Bryony Image Gallery
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    Black-Bryony-Plant-Illustrations Black-Bryony-Plant-Illustrations
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    Closer-view-of-stem-of-Black-Bryony Closer-view-of-stem-of-Black-Bryony
    Closer-view-of-unripe-fruit-of-Black-Bryony Closer-view-of-unripe-fruit-of-Black-Bryony
    Close-up-view-of-Black-Bryony-fruit Close-up-view-of-Black-Bryony-fruit

    Flower-of-Black-Bryony-plant Flower-of-Black-Bryony-plant
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    Leaves-of-Black-Bryony-plant Leaves-of-Black-Bryony-plant

    Seeds-and-fruits-of-Black-Bryony-plant Seeds-and-fruits-of-Black-Bryony-plant
    Sketch-of-Black-Bryony-plant Sketch-of-Black-Bryony-plant
    Small-Black-Bryony-plant Small-Black-Bryony-plant

    Tuberous-root-of-Black-Bryony-plant Tuberous-root-of-Black-Bryony-plant
    Unripe-Black-Bryony-fruit Unripe-Black-Bryony-fruit
    Young-shoots-of-Black-Bryony-plant Young-shoots-of-Black-Bryony-plant

    Traditional uses and benefits of Black Bryony

    • It is not typically used internally; however, it has been used as a poultice for bruises and inflamed joints.
    • The root is anti-ecchymotic, diuretic, emetic, haemolytic and rubefacient.
    • It is not normally used internally, but the softened root is applied externally as a poultice to bruises, rheumatic joints etc.
    • The expressed juice of the fresh root, mixed with a little white wine, has been used as a remedy for gravel, being a powerful diuretic.
    • The expressed juice of the root, with honey, has also been used as a remedy for asthmatic complaints.
    • Tincture made from the root proves a most useful application to unbroken chilblains, and also the fruits, steeped in gin, are used for the same remedy.
    • Black Bryony is a popular remedy for removing discoloration caused by bruises and black eyes, etc.
    • The plant is used for agitation and redness of the skin, bruises, strains, torn muscles, gout and other rheumatic disorders.
    • Black Bryony is also used for irritation of the intestine mucous membrane and as an emetic.
    • It is also used as a tonic for hair loss, as it improves blood circulation to the scalp.

    Culinary Uses

    • Young shoots are edible and can be used as asparagus substitute, and are usually picked in spring.
    • Young shoots may be eaten raw, but they are usually cooked in hot water for various salads or used in omelet.

    Precautions

    • It has been recommended that black bryony be used topically with caution, due to a tendency for the plant to cause painful blisters.
    • The whole plant is poisonous due to its saponin content.
    • Children should be cautioned against eating them.
    • Gloves should be worn to protect the hands, as the fresh roots cause serious reddening of the skin.
    • Skin contact with the fresh plant leads to the formation of rashes, swelling, pustules and wheals, due to the skin- and mucous membrane-irritating oxalate needles and histamine.
    • Internal administration triggers signs of severe irritation in the mouth, pharyngeal space and gastrointestinal tract, combined with vomiting and intense diarrhea.
    • It should be avoided by pregnant and breast feeding women in any forms.

    References:

    https://www.pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tamus+communis

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-239990

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorea_communis

    http://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11645436

    https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/brybla75.html

    http://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/blackbryony.htm

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?423869

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    Black Bryony Facts

    Black Bryony (Ladies Seal) Quick Facts
    Name: Black Bryony (Ladies Seal)
    Scientific Name: Dioscorea communis
    Origin Southern and central Europe
    Colors Initially green, scarlet red when ripe
    Shapes Bright red berry, 1 cm diameter
    Taste Acrid
    Health benefits Remedy for asthmatic complaints, agitation and redness of the skin, bruises, strains, torn muscles, gout
    Name Black Bryony
    Scientific Name Dioscorea communis
    Native Southern and central Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia, from Ireland to the Canary Islands, east to Iran and Crimea
    Common Names Black bindweed, Black bryony, Lady’s-seal, Norça, bryony
    Name in Other Languages Azerbaijani: Adi giləzəhər
    Basque: Apo mahats , Apo-mahats
    Bulgarian: Breĭ (rastenie) Брей (растение)
    Catalan, Valencian: Gatmaimó
    Croatian: Kuka, Kuka (biljka)
    Danish: Jomfrurod
    Dutch: Spekwortel
    English: Black bindweed, Black bryony, Lady’s-seal, Norça, bryony
    Finnish: Euroopankiiltoköynnös
    French: Herbe-aux-femmes-battues, Tamier, Tamier commun, Sceau de Notre Dame
    Georgian: Dzaghlis sat’atsuri (ძაღლის სატაცური)
    German: Echte Schmerwurz, Schmerwurz
    Hungarian: Pirítógyökér
    Italian: Tamaro, Tamus communis
    Latvian: Parastais tamus
    Portuguese: Norça, Norça preta, uva-de-cão
    Romanian: fluerătoare, viţă neagră
    Serbian: Bljušt (Бљушт)
    Spanish: Brionia negra, Corriola de cavall , Gatmaimó , Maimó , Nueza negra, canduerca, Vid negra
    Swedish:  Djävulsdruva
    Ukrainian: Tamus zvychaynyy (Тамус звичайний)
    Plant Growth Habit Climbing herbaceous plant
    Growing Climate Forest understory, from the sea to the mountains, usually in dense woods, but it can also be found in meadows and hedges
    Soil Prefers sandy, loamy and clay soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils
    Plant Size 2–4m (6.5-13ft) tall
    Root Large, fleshy root is nearly cylindrical, 1 to 1 1/2 inch in diameter, 3 to 4 inches long or more, black on the outside
    Stem Very long, slender, angular or round, branched
    Leaf Heart-shaped pointed leaves 10cm long by 8cm wide (4in by 3in), with a petiole up to 5cm (2in) long, are smooth with a shiny appearance
    Flowering Periods May to July
    Flower Flowers are individually inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, 3–6 mm diameter, with six petals; the male flowers produced in slender 5–10 cm racemes, the female flowers in shorter clusters
    Fruit Shape & Size Bright red berry, 1 cm diameter
    Fruit Color Initially green, scarlet red when ripe
    Flavor/Aroma Slightly earthy
    Taste Acrid
    Seed Each berry contains (3) 6 globose seeds of red-brick or brownish color
    Plant Parts Used Root
    Season Sep to November
    Other Facts
    • All components of the black bryony plant, including the tubers, are poisonous due to saponin content.

    Black Bryony Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Dioscorea communis

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superorder Lilianae
    Order Dioscoreales
    Subclass Magnoliidae
    Family Dioscoreaceae
    Genus Dioscorea
    Species D. communis
    Synonyms
    • Dioscorea canariensis Webb & Berthel.
    • Smilax rubra Willd.
    • Tamus baccifera St.-Lag.
    • Tamus canariensis Willd.
    • Tamus canariensis Willd. ex Kunth
    • Tamus cirrhosa Hausskn.
    • Tamus cirrhosa Hausskn. ex Bornm.
    • Tamus communis L.
    • Tamus communis f. subtriloba (Guss.) O.Bolòs & Vigo
    • Tamus communis subsp. cretica (L.) Kit Tan
    • Tamus communis subsp. cretica (L.) Nyman
    • Tamus communis var. cretica (L.) Boiss.
    • Tamus communis var. subtriloba Guss.
    • Tamus communis var. triloba Simonk.
    • Tamus cordifolia Stokes
    • Tamus cretica L.
    • Tamus edulis Lowe
    • Tamus norsa Lowe
    • Tamus parviflora Kunth
    • Tamus racemosa Gouan
    • Fresh shoots
    • Boiled shoot
    Nutritional value of Fresh young shoots of Black Bryony
    Serving Size: 100 g

    Calories 46 K cal. Calories from Fat 4.41 K cal.

    Proximity Amount % DV
    Water 85.2 g N/D
    Energy 46 Kcal N/D
    Protein 3.13 g 6.26%
    Total Fat (lipid) 0.49 g 1.40%
    Ash 1.25 g N/D
    Carbohydrate 5.2 g 4.00%
    Total dietary Fiber 4.35 g 11.45%
    Total Sugars 1.28 g N/D
    Sucrose 0.12 g N/D
    Glucose (dextrose) 300 g N/D
    Fructose 640 g N/D
    Trehalose 0.223 g N/D

     
    Minerals Amount % DV
    Calcium, Ca 47 mg 4.70%
    Iron, Fe 0.65 mg 8.13%
    Magnesium, Mg 22.4 mg 5.33%
    Potassium, K 371 mg 7.89%
    Sodium, Na 18.5 mg 1.23%
    Zinc, Zn 0.745 mg 6.77%
    Copper, Cu 0.13 mg 14.44%
    Manganese, Mn 0.165 mg 7.17%


     
    Vitamins Amount % DV
    Water soluble Vitamins
    Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 65.4 mg 72.67%
    Ascorbic acid 45.2 mg N/D
    Dehydroascorbic acid 10 mg N/D
    Fat soluble Vitamins
    Vitamin A, RAE 38.1 µg 5.44%
    Beta Carotene 440 µg N/D
    Lutein  1140 µg N/D
    Neoxanthin 1190 µg N/D
    Violaxanthin 620 µg N/D
    Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 1.41 mg 9.40%
    Tocopherol, beta 1.42 mg N/D
    Tocopherol, gamma 1.57 mg N/D
    Tocopherol, delta 0.23 mg N/D

     

     
    Organic acids Amount % DV
    Oxalic acid 67.4 mg N/D
    Malic acid 27.6 mg N/D
    Shikimic acid 30.9 mg N/D
    Citric acid 274 mg N/D
    Phenolics (total) 269.5 mg N/D
    Flavonoids 210.33 mg N/D

     
    Lipids Amount % DV
    Fatty acids, total saturated 20.5 g N/D
    Lauric acid (dodecanoic acid) 12:00 0.09 g N/D
    Myristic acid  14:00(Tetradecanoic acid) 0.15 g N/D
    Palmitic acid 16:00 (Hexadecanoic acid) 15.9 g N/D
    Stearic acid 18:00 (Octadecanoic acid) 0.97 g N/D
    Arachidic acid 20:00 (Eicosanoic acid) 0.23 g N/D
    Behenic acid (docosanoic acid) 22:00 0.88 g N/D
    Lignoceric acid (tetracosanoic acid) 24:00 2.03 g N/D
    Fatty acids, total monounsaturated 6.6 g N/D
    Palmitoleic acid 16:1 (hexadecenoic acid) 0.17 g N/D
    Oleic acid 18:1 (octadecenoic acid) 6.04 g N/D
    Gadoleic acid 20:1 (eicosenoic acid) 0.33 g N/D
    Erucic acid 22:1 (docosenoic acid) 0.01 g N/D
    24:1n − 9 0.05 g N/D
    Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated 72.8 g N/D
    Linoleic acid 18:2 (octadecadienoic acid) 42.2 g N/D
    Linolenic acid 18:3 (Octadecatrienoic acid) 29.4 g N/D
    Alpha-linolenic acid 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (Octadecatrienoic acid) 0.45 g N/D
    Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3) 30.2 g N/D
    Omega-6 fatty acids (n-6) 43.1 g N/D
    Omega-6 fatty acids (n-6) 6.5 g N/D

    *Above mentioned Percent Daily Values (%DVs) are based on 2,000 calorie diet intake. Daily values (DVs) may be different depending upon your daily calorie needs. Mentioned values are recommended by a U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are not healthbenefitstimes.com recommendations. Calculations are based on average age of 19 to 50 years and weighs 194 lbs.

    Source:
    https://www.springer.com/

    Nutritional value of Boiled young shoot of Black Bryony
    Serving Size: 100 g

    Calories 22 K cal. Calories from Fat 0.72 K cal.

    Proximity Amount % DV
    Water 90.6g N/D
    Energy 22Kcal N/D
    Protein 0.5g 1.00%
    Total Fat (lipid) 0.08g 0.23%
    Ash 0.7g N/D
    Carbohydrate 3.1g 2.38%
    Total dietary Fiber 3.3g 8.68%

     
    Minerals Amount % DV
    Calcium, Ca 47.3mg 4.73%
    Iron, Fe 0.43mg 5.38%
    Magnesium, Mg 15.2mg 3.62%
    Potassium, K 202mg 4.30%
    Sodium, Na 14.9mg 0.99%
    Zinc, Zn 0.44mg 4.00%
    Copper, Cu 0.09mg 10.00%
    Manganese, Mn 0.13mg 5.65%


     
    Vitamins Amount % DV
    Water soluble Vitamins
    Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 40.9mg 45.44%
    Ascorbic acid 36.2mg N/D
    Dehydroascorbic acid 3.5mg N/D

     

     
    Organic Acids Amount % DV
    Oxalic acid 80mg N/D
    Citric acid 240mg N/D

    *Above mentioned Percent Daily Values (%DVs) are based on 2,000 calorie diet intake. Daily values (DVs) may be different depending upon your daily calorie needs. Mentioned values are recommended by a U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are not healthbenefitstimes.com recommendations. Calculations are based on average age of 19 to 50 years and weighs 194 lbs.

    Source:
    https://www.springer.com/

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