Stemona japonica seed

LATIN NAME: STEMONA JAPONICA

COMMON NAME: Japanese Stemona

The Japanese stemona tufts the slender, climbing stems with the bright-green, heart-shaped leaves and the curious, deep-purple flowers that open along the lower stems in the early summer, each flower with the six pointed lobes. The plant climbs by the leaf stalks, and it dies back to the thick, fleshy roots through the winter. The roots form the clustered, tuberous mass, and they have been gathered for the herbal use for the ages. It likes the part shade, and the moist, leafy, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

In the stemona family, the clustered roots have kept the chemists busy for the ages, and the Japanese stemona appears in the studies of the root alkaloids and the medicinal plants. The research covers the way the plant defends itself, along with the seed biology, while the horticulturists note the curious purple flowers that open along the lower stems. The collectors of the unusual woodland plants keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the shaded garden, the Japanese stemona hides the treasure under the soil. The deep-purple flowers and the leafy stems give the unusual, woodland look, the clustered roots have served the traditional preparations for the ages, and the thick roots make the plant easy to divide and share. It grows well in the moist, leafy, sheltered ground. Cool, curious and quietly valuable.

The Japanese stemona seeds germinate in a loose, leafy mix kept cool and shaded. The seedlings break ground at their own pace, and they grow on slowly at first with the heart-shaped leaves. Plant them out into the moist, leafy, sheltered ground once they are big enough, and give them the part shade. The thick, clustered roots build with the years, and the curious flowers come once the plant is settled.

To grow the Japanese stemona from seed, set the seeds into the loose, leafy mix of the deep pot, then cover them lightly, keep the pot in the cool, shaded spot and water gently. The seedlings break ground as the roots take hold, and they grow on steadily. Settle the young plants in the part shade and the moist, leafy ground, and the curious flowers will tuft the stems each early summer.

 

 

 

 

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Naming

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Bai Bu (Radix Stemonae)——Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

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Origin

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The dry root tuber of perennial herbaceous plant Stemona sessili folia (Miq.) Miq., Stemona japonica (BI.) Miq. or Stemona tuberosa Lour. of family Stemonaceae.

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Harvest

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Collected in spring or autumn, removed fibrous root, cleaned, blanched in boiling water slightly or steamed deeply.

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The actual smell and taste

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Light smell; Stemona sessili folia (Miq.) Miq. have bitter and sweet taste, while Stemona japonica (BI.) Miq, and Stemona tuberosa Lour. have bitter taste.

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