This taxon is treated as a synonym of Stauntonia cavalerieana Gagnep. by Christenhusz M.J.M.[].

Common Name:

General Information

Stauntonia brachyanthera is a large, evergreen climbing shrub with twining stems that climb into the surrounding vegetation[].
The plant is harvested from the wild and also cultivated within its native range for its fruit and for medicinal purposes. It is an important economic crop locally, being traded for its fruit and also used medicinally as a substitute for the stem of Akebia species[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan)

Habitat

Mixed forest on mountain slopes; at elevations from 500 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Stauntonia brachyanthera is native to the warm temperate and subtropical climates of southern China. Cold-tolerance is not known at present, but it is likely to withstand at least some frost and to succeed outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone.
Species in this genus generally grow well in most well-drained but moisture retentive soils in a position sheltered from strong or cold winds. They succeed in full sun and in semi-shade, but grow best if their roots are in a shady position and their stems are allowed to grow into the sun[, ]. This species is fairly drought tolerant[].
The plant is monoecious, producing racemes of flowers with two or three female flowers at the base and 8 or more male flowers towards the tip[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. Tasty[]. The flavour is said to bear a resmblance to the papaya[]. The fruit is also used locally to make drinks and vinegar[]. The yellow, ellipsoid fruit is 50 - 75mm long and 30 - 50mm wide, containing numerous seeds embedded in a gelatinous pulp[]

An oil is obtained from the seeds[].

Medicinal

The stems and roots are antiinflammatory, diuretic. They help to relieve pain and are used to treat a range of conditions including fever, dysmenorrhea, cancer, oedema and infammatory diseases[, , ].

The leaves are used in the treatment of diarrhoea, fevers and headache[]

The fruits are traditionally used to relieve the suferings of concretion[]

A decoction of the leaves and branches is used topically for skin lightening, resolving carbuncles and treating boils[].

The stems are very similar in their medicinal activity to the stems of Akebia quinata, which is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are sometimes used as a substitute for that species[].

Compounds found in the plant have been shown to have antioxidant, cytotoxic and hepatic protectant activities[, ].

Other Uses

The stems are used as pipes to blow air onto an open fire in order to stimulate the flames[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[].
Cuttings.