Adenophora nikoensis
a perennial member of the Adenophora genus in the family Campanulaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Adenophora
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked[2][4]. Best if boiled in two lots of water, it then makes excellent eating[5]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked[2][4][5].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - northern to central Japan.
- Habitat
- Alpine regions, in sandy and stony situations in full sun[8][6]. Rocky slopes and pebbly grasslands of subalpine to alpine regions at elevations of 1500 - 3000 metres[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[6]. The seed can also be sown in spring. Surface sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot in the spring in order to avoid transplanting[3]. We have found that if transplanted when very small seedlings grow away without difficulty[K]. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10°c[3]. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst young. Basal cuttings in spring[K]. Division in spring - very difficult because the plant dislikes root disturbance[1]..
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a light rich slightly alkaline soil that is not too dry, and a warm sunny position[1][6]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[1]. A polymorphic species[8]. Adenophora nikoensis is sometimes separated into two different species, in which the plant with calyx lobes serrate is named A. nipponica and that with entire ones as A. nikoensis. These two forms, however, are often observed in the same place and cannot really be separated[7]. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, they have been known to destroy even mature plants[K].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00