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Useful Temperate Plants

Persicaria chinensis

(L.) H.Gross

Polygonaceae

+ Synonyms

Ampelygonum chinense (L.) Lindl.

Ampelygonum umbellatum (Houtt.) Masam.

Coccoloba asiatica Lour.

Coccoloba indica Wight ex Meisn.

Persicaria umbellata (Houtt.) Nakai

Polygonum adenopodum Sam.

Polygonum adenotrichum Griff.

Polygonum asiaticum (Lour.) B.D.Jacks.

Polygonum auriculatum Meisn.

Polygonum brachiatum Poir.

Polygonum chinense L.

Polygonum corymbosum Willd.

Polygonum crispatum C.B.Clarke

Polygonum densiflorum Blume

Polygonum ovatum B.Heyne

Polygonum panduriforme Buch.-Ham. ex Endl.

Polygonum patens D.Don

Polygonum sinense J.F.Gmel.

Polygonum umbellatum (Houtt.) Koidz.

Rumex umbellatus Houtt.

Common Name: Chinese Knotweed

Persicaria chinensis
Cultivated plant
Photograph by: Rojypala
Creative Commons License
Persicaria chinensis Persicaria chinensis Persicaria chinensis Persicaria chinensis Persicaria chinensis Persicaria chinensis

General Information

Persicaria chinensis is a perennial plant, usually with a climbing habit, producing much-branched stems from stout, underground rhizomes. The stems can be 0.3 - 6 metres long and often become woody at the base. At higher elevations the plant is often small and erect in habit[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is cultivated for medicinal use in Korea and is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat

Very common in brushwood, forest borders, open forest, riverbanks, and tea- and Cinchona-plantations; throughout Indo-China; at elevations from sea level to 3,300 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Damp wasteground in lowlands and mountains in Malesia[
987
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore Vol. 47 Part 2
Publication
 
Author
Turner I.M.
Publisher
Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1995
ISBN
0374-7859
Description
A botanical journal, this edition contains a catalogue of the vascular plants of Malaya.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial Climber
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Persicaria chinensis is found from the temperate climate of Korea to the tropics of southern Asia, at elevations from sea level to more than 3,000 metres.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. A sour flavour[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. The tepals become blue-black and fleshy, enclosing the seeds as they ripen - they can be eaten as a fruit[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].

Tender leaves and young shoots are pickled and eaten[
272
Title
Plants and People of Nepal
Publication
 
Author
Manandhar. N. P.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
2002
ISBN
0-88192-527-6
Description
Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].

We have no specific information for this species, but the seed of most, if not all, members of the genus is edible both raw and cooked, and is potentially a good source of amino acids. Unfortunately the seed is also usually rather small and fiddly to utilize[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

The plant is antiscorbutic, tonic, vulnerary[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. A decoction of the plant is used as a depurative[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Externally, the decoction is used to treat eczema of the ears[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The juice of the plant is employed in the treatment of eye diseases[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The leaves are antibacterial. Applied topicaly as a poultice or as a juice, they are an effective treatment for conditiona such as furunculosis, impetigo, scalp scabs, cold sore, eczema, and streptococcal skin infections[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]. A poultice is applied to the abdomen as a treatment for stomach-ache[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Snake-bite is treated by an oral administration of the juice of fresh leaves (20 - 30g), the residue being applied to the bite as a plaster[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
A decoction of the dried leaves is indicated for the treatment of boils·and dysentery[
283
Title
Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
Publication
 
Author
Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
Publisher
World Health Organisation
Year
1989
ISBN
92 9061 101 4
Description
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-10. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Persicaria+chinensis>

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