Common Name:

General Information

Codonopsis javanica is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant growing from thickened, carrot-shaped roots. The much-branched stems scramble over the ground, twining into the surrounding vegetation for support[]. The stems are generally up to 2 metres long, though one report says that they can reach 6 - 14 metres[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China, Japan, northern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia (Java, Sumatra)

Habitat

Hillsides and damp fertile ground by streams[]. Meadows and waste lands, also found along the edges of forests in mountainous areas[]. Open forest, mostly on forest edges, in secondary forest and thickets, sometimes in grassy fields[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Codonopsis javanica is native from the warm temperate zone of China and Japan to the tropics of southeast Asia - though generally only at elevations of around 1,000 metres or more in the tropics[].
Species in this genus generaly prefer a well-drained fertile light soil in full sun or semi shade[, ]. Plants only succeed in full sun if the soil remains moist during the growing season[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. Fleshy[]. The violet or greenish white suffused with red, globose berry can range from 7 - 26mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The root contains an essential oil, glucose, fatty substances, the glucoside scutellarin and a small amount of alkaloids[]. It is diuretic, expectorant and stomachic[]. Galactogogue, stomachic[]. It is used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including general debility, fatigue, anaemia, jaundice, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, nephritis, haemorrhoids, oedema and diseases of the lymphatic system[].
The roots are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring to early summer in an ericaceous compost in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 weeks at 20°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer and protect them from slugs until the plants are well established[].
Division in spring, with care, since the plant resents root disturbance[]. We have found it best to take small divisions that are teased out from the sides of the main clump so as to cause the least possible disturbance to the plants and to avoid having to dig up the clump. These small divisions need to be potted up and placed in light shade in a greenhouse until they are rooting well. They can be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer if they are large enough, otherwise in the following spring[].