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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts and benefits of White Turtlehead
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts and benefits of White Turtlehead

    By SylviaJanuary 23, 2018Updated:January 23, 2018No Comments6 Mins Read
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    Facts and benefits of White Turtlehead

    White Turtlehead also known as Balmony, Snake-head, Turtle Bloom, Fishmouth, Shell Flower, Bitter Herb, Turtlehead, salt rheum weed, shellflower, rheumatism wort and salt rheum weed is a perennial herb with scientific name Chelone glabra.  Its classification has in the past been controversial, but as a result of DNA sequence studies, it is now regarded as belonging to family Plantaginaceae (the plantain family) but formerly in the Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon Family).In spite of being a relatively unknown flower to many, the plant has several nicknames. The plant is native to Eastern and Central North America and Canada. Its native range extends from Georgia to Newfoundland and Labrador and from Mississippi to Manitoba. Its natural habitat is wet areas, such as riparian forests and swamps. Genus name comes from the Greek word chelone meaning tortoise in reference to the turtlehead shape of the flowers and its species name of glabra means smooth.­­

    Plant Description

    White Turtlehead is an herbaceous, perennial, smooth herb that grows about 2 to 4 feet tall and spread 1.5 to 2.5 feet. The plant is found growing in margins of swamps, wet woods and rivers, woodland garden sunny edge, dappled shade, shady edge and bog garden. It best grown in moist to wet, rich, humusy soils in part shade and appreciates good composted leaf mulch, particularly in sunny areas. The plant’s root system consists of taproot and rhizomes and has smooth, stout, upright stems.

    Leaves

    Each pair of opposite leaves rotates 90° from the position of the pair of leaves immediately below. Leaves are 8 inches long and 1½ inches wide and they are linear-lanceolate in shape. However, the typical variety of White Turtlehead has some leaves greater than ¾” and they are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate in shape. The leaves are hairless and finely serrated along their margins. At their bases, the leaves are sessile, or they have petioles that are less than ¼” in length. The central stem terminates in a dense spike of white flowers about 3-6″ in length, blooming from the bottom to the top. The leaves have a slight somewhat tea-like odor and a markedly bitter taste.

    Flower

    Each flower is about 1 to 1½ inches long, consisting of a 2-lipped white corolla, a green calyx with 5 oval teeth, a slender white style, and 5 hairy stamens. Four of these stamens have fertile anthers, while the remaining stamen is sterile and green. The tubular corolla is somewhat flattened at the mouth, where it is more wide than tall. The upper lip of the corolla functions as a protective hood, while the lower lip has 2-3 shallow lobes and functions as a landing pad for visiting insects. The lower interior of the corolla has abundant white hairs. At the base of the calyx, there are a few green bracts that resemble the sepals. Flower color is creamy white, sometimes tinged pink. Flowers bloom from the bottom of the spike up.

    Fruit

    Each flower is replaced by an ovoid seed capsule containing several seeds that are flattened and broadly winged; these seeds can be blown about by the wind and probably float on water.

    More varieties for Turtlehead

    1. Pink turtlehead

    Chelone lyonii is the tallest of turtlehead species at 3-4 feet in height. It bears clusters of purplish-pink flowers from August through October.

    2. Rose turtlehead

    Chelone obliqua flowers look similar to those of pink turtlehead, but they tend to be slightly darker and are borne on plants that remain under 2 feet.

    White Turtlehead Image Gallery
    Different-varieties-of-White-Turtlehead Different-varieties-of-White-Turtlehead
    Flowering-buds-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Flowering-buds-of-White-Turtlehead-plant
    Flowers-of-White-Turtlehead Flowers-of-White-Turtlehead

    Inflorescence-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Inflorescence-of-White-Turtlehead-plant
    Leaves-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Leaves-of-White-Turtlehead-plant
    Plant-Illustration-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Plant-Illustration-of-White-Turtlehead-plant

    Red-Turtlehead Red-Turtlehead
    Seed-pods-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Seed-pods-of-White-Turtlehead-plant
    Sketch-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Sketch-of-White-Turtlehead-plant

    Stem-of-White-Turtlehead-plant Stem-of-White-Turtlehead-plant
    White-Turtlehead-Plant White-Turtlehead-Plant
    White-Turtlehead-Plant-growing-wild White-Turtlehead-Plant-growing-wild

    Traditional uses and benefits of White Turtlehead

    • Flowers can be used as a method of birth control, as used by Abenaki people.
    • Balmony is a very bitter herb with a tea-like flavor that acts mainly as a tonic for the liver and digestive system.
    • Herb also has anti-depressant and laxative effects.
    • Decoction of the whole herb is anti-bilious, aperient, appetizer, cathartic, cholagogue, detergent, tonic, vermifuge.
    • It is used internally in the treatment of consumption, debility, diseases of the liver, gallbladder problems, gallstones etc.
    • It is used to relieve nausea and vomiting, intestinal colic and to expel worms.
    • Its tonic effect upon the digestive system has made it of benefit in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
    • Externally, it is applied as a soothing ointment to piles, inflamed tumors, irritable ulcers, inflamed breasts etc.
    • Leaves have anti-bilious, anthelmintic, tonic and detergent properties, with a peculiar action on the liver, and are used largely in consumption, dyspepsia, debility and jaundice, in diseases of the liver, and for worms in children for which the powder or decoction may be used internally or in injection.
    • As an ointment it is recommended for inflamed tumors, irritable ulcers, inflamed breasts, piles, etc.
    • Herb contains bitter substances thus it is regarded to helpful in stimulating appetite by increasing the secretion of digestive fluids.
    • It is thought to be of values as a remedy for various liver ailments, and act as a general enhancer for the entire digestive system.
    • Balmony has been used as a natural treatment for gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, and jaundice.
    • Herb has been used traditionally to relieve nausea, vomiting, and colic (intestinal cramps), and as a remedy for indigestion (dyspepsia), general weakness, anorexia and to get rid of intestinal parasites (worms).
    • Balmony is regarded as a gentle herb that can be used by both children and the elderly, especially for digestive problems caused by prolonged diseases.
    • The herb is also touted to have anti-depressant properties.
    • Externally, the herb has been used in the form of ointment or liniment on hemorrhoids, inflamed breast, herpes and inflamed and painful wounds, cuts and scrapes.
    • In the past, the Native Americans were known to have used balmony for blood purification purposes and as a treatment for atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) and chronic rheumatic conditions.

    Ayurvedic Health benefits of White Turtlehead

    • Liver diseases: Prepare a decoction of Dandelion root, Berberis Aristata (Kilmora) root and Chelona Glabra leaves. Take it twice a day.

    Dosage and Administration

    • As a tea: is poured a cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons dried herb in one cup of boiling water and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. The tea can be drunk three times a day.
    • As a tincture: 1:10 with 40 % alcohol. Common dosage is 1-2 ml three times daily.

    Precautions

    • It may cause Menstrual Disorders.
    • It may decrease sexual interest and sexual dysfunction in Men.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=33182#null

    https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1400/

    http://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Chelone+glabra

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/113207

    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j780

    https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/balmon04.html

    https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=chgl2

    https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/chelone/glabra/

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

    http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/wh_turtlehead.htm

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    White Turtlehead Facts

    White Turtlehead Quick Facts
    Name: White Turtlehead
    Scientific Name: Chelone glabra
    Origin Eastern and Central North America and Canada
    Shapes Oval capsules about inch (1 cm) long, with many brown flat, round, winged seeds
    Taste Bitter, pungent
    Name White Turtlehead
    Scientific Name Chelone glabra
    Native Eastern and Central North America and Canada
    Common Names White Turtlehead, Balmony, Snake-head, Turtle Bloom, Fishmouth, Shell Flower, Bitter Herb, Turtlehead, salt rheum weed, shellflower, rheumatism wort, salt rheumweed
    Name in Other Languages Danish: Skjoldblomst
    English: Balmony, Snakehead, Turtlehead, White turtlehead, Smooth balmony, Cod-head, Fish-mouth,
    French: Galane glabre
    German: Kahle Schildblume
    Nynorsk, Norwegian: Snauskjoldblom
    Norwegian Bokmål: Snauskjoldblom
    Spanish: chelone
    Swedish: Vit sköldpaddsört, sköldpaddsört
    Plant Growth Habit Herbaceous, perennial, smooth herb
    Growing Climate Margins of swamps, wet woods and rivers, woodland garden sunny edge, dappled Shade, Shady edge, bog garden
    Soil Best grown in moist to wet, rich, humusy soils in part shade. Appreciates good composted leaf mulch, particularly in sunny areas
    Plant Size 2 to 4 feet tall and  spread 1.5 to 2.5 feet
    Root Root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes
    Stem Smooth, stout, upright stems
    Leaf Shiny, dark green leaves are oval to lance-shaped leaves that are arranged opposite each other along the stem
    Flowering Periods August and September
    Flower Short, dense, terminal spikes of two-lipped, white or purplish, cream or rose flowers, the lower lip bearded in the throat and the heart-shaped anthers and filaments woolly
    Fruit Oval capsules about inch (1 cm) long, with many brown flat
    Seed Brown flat, round, winged seeds.
    Flavor/Aroma Somewhat tea-like odor (Leaf)
    Taste Bitter, pungent (Leaf)
    Plant Parts Used whole fresh herb
    Available Forms Tea, tincture
    Varieties/ Types
    • Pink turtlehead
    • Rose turtlehead
    Culinary Uses
    • Young shoots and leaves were parboiled and panfried by some Indian tribes, especially in times of famine.
    Other Facts
    • The plant should be planted in pots to prevent the roots from creeping too far.

    White Turtlehead Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Chelone glabra

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Asteridae
    Order Scrophulariales
    Family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
    Genus Chelone L. (turtlehead)
    Species
    Chelone glabra L. (white turtlehead)
    Synonyms
    • Chelone alba Moench
    • Chelone capitata Raf.
    • Chelone chlorantha Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone elatior Raf.
    • Chelone glabra f. glabra
    • Chelone glabra f. rosea Fernald
    • Chelone glabra f. tomentosa (Raf.) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra f. velutina Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone glabra subsp. chlorantha (Pennell & Wherry) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra subsp. dilatata (Fernald & Wiegand) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra subsp. elatior (Raf.) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra subsp. elongata (Pennell & Wherry) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra subsp. linifolia (Coleman) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra subsp. ochroleuca (Pennell & Wherry) Pennell
    • Chelone glabra var. alba Michx.
    • Chelone glabra var. capitata Raf.
    • Chelone glabra var. chlorantha (Pennell & Wherry) Cooperr.
    • Chelone glabra var. dilatata Fernald & Wiegand
    • Chelone glabra var. elatior Raf.
    • Chelone glabra var. elongata Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone glabra var. glabra
    • Chelone glabra var. lanceolata Nutt.
    • Chelone glabra var. linifolia N.Coleman
    • Chelone glabra var. maculata Raf.
    • Chelone glabra var. obliquea Raf.
    • Chelone glabra var. ochroleuca Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone glabra var. typica Pennell
    • Chelone lanceolata Raf.
    • Chelone linifolia (Coleman) Pennell ex Rydb.
    • Chelone linifolia (N.Coleman) Pennell
    • Chelone maculata Raf.
    • Chelone montana (Raf.) Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone montana var. elatior (Raf.) Pennell & Wherry
    • Chelone purpurea Raf.
    • Chlonanthes glabra (L.) Raf.
    • Chlonanthes montana Raf.
    • Chlonanthes tomentosa Raf.
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