This species is closely related and very similar to the Chinese species Buckleya henryi Diels, differing mainly by having shorter bracts, and leaves less markedly caudate[].

Common Name: Tsukubane

General Information

Buckleya lanceolata is a small, deciduous shrub.
The fruit is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It has long been pickled and sold in markets as a condiment[]

Known Hazards

The young leaves and the bark are reported to be poisonous and irritating to the skin[]

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - central and southern Japan

Habitat

Woods at low elevations in the mountains[].

Properties

Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Buckleya lanceolata
This species is hemiparasitic on the roots of other trees. It requires a well-drained but moisture-retentive lime-free soil and should be plants close to the roots of a suitable host plant[].
Species of Buckleya form haustoria on a variety of hosts, including Taxus, Pinus, Chamaecyparis, Abies, Cryptomeria, and some hardwoods, both in nature and also in cultivation[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is rich in starch and has long been pickled and sold as a condiment[]. The ovoid to ellipsoidal fruit is 7 - 10mm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - stratify for 3 months at 5°c and sow into a pot already containing a young specimen of a suitable host tree. Plant out by the roots of a suitable host tree once the Buckleya is growing well and then remove the nurse tree when it is clear that the Buckleya is well established on the roots of its new host[].