Bryonia dioica

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Red Bryony (B. dioica)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily:	Cucurbitoideae
Tribe:	Benincaseae
Subtribe:	Benincasinae
Genus:	Bryonia
Species:	B. dioica
Binomial name
Bryonia dioica Jacq.

Bryonia dioica, or red bryony, is a perennial climbing vine indigenous to Central and Southern Europe. It is a flowering plant of the genus Bryonia with five-pointed leaves and blue or white flowers. The vine produces a red berry fruit.

Toxicity

B. dioica is generally toxic to humans. Application of its juice to the skin produces inflammation with a rash or ulcers, and consumption of this juice causes intense gastrointestinal irritation including nausea and vomiting in small doses, and anxiety, paralysis, or death in larger amounts. For this reason its fruit has been used to treat scabies, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and sciatica, as well as finding some uses in waxing.

The seed of this vine, by contrast, is safely edible, and finds use in Western Europe as an ingredient in starch dishes.

In homeopathic medicine, B. dioica seed and extract are consumed for their dietary supplements such as essential oils, flavonoids, phytosterols, and alkaloids.

External links

• http://www.narcismunso.com/website/foto_natura.asp?seccio=fotonatura&tema=flora&id=22
• http://www.rjb.csic.es/floraiberica/index.php
• http://www.asturnatura.com/especie/bryonia-cretica-subsp-dioica.html
• http://www.rednaturaleza.com/plantas_doc.asp?p=Nueza%20(Bryonia%20dioica)

Bibliography

• Creynaud J. La flora del farmacéutico. Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, 2002.
• Bruneton J. Plantas tóxicas, Acribia, Colección: Ciencias biomédicas, 2001.
• Font P. Plantas medicinales, Labor, 1980.
• Díaz T. Curso de botánica, Trea ciencias, 2004.
• Caron M, Clos H. Plantas medicinales, Ediciones Daimon i Manuel Tamayo de 1973.

Notes

ca:Bryonia dioica