Common Name:

General Information

Elatostema involucratum is a herbaceous perennial plant with erect to ascending stems; it can grow around 20 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is a well-known, popular wild vegetable in Japan and is also harvested from the wild for medicinal use. It is sometimes grown as a ground cover plant for moist, shady areas.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern and eastern China, South Korea, Japan

Habitat

Rocks along valley streamsides, forests, thickets; at elevations from 200 - 3,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.45 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full and in partial shade.
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is to be produced. However, this species also forms bulbils along the stems which can be used for propagation.

Edible Uses

Young leaves - boiled as a vgetable, or coated in batter and deep fried as tempura[]. (As Elatostema umbellatum var majus)

Medicinal

The whole plant is used medicinally in China with a pinyin name of chi che shi zhe[]. No more details.

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground cover plant for moist, shady areas, spreading slowly even in dense shade by means of the bulbils produced along the stems.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -