Practical
Plants

Akebia quinata

Chocolate Vine · Akebia

an evergreen fruit vine of the Akebia genus in the family Lardizabalaceae. It is an edible vine with a spicy, chocolatey aroma used in basket making.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Akebia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
10 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
monoecious
Flower colours
violet

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit is 5 - 10cm long and up to 4m wide[22][23].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Fresh
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The stems are anodyne, antifungal, antiphlogistic, bitter, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, laxative, galactogogue, resolvent, stimulant, stomachic and vulnerary[6][8][15][17]. Taken internally, it controls bacterial and fungal infections and is used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, lack of menstruation, to improve lactation etc[17]. The stems are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[17]. The fruit is antirheumatic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge, stomachic and tonic[15]. It is a popular remedy for cancer[15]. The root is febrifuge[15]. The plant was ranked 13th in a survey of 250 potential antifertility plants in China[15].

Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Anodyne
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Bitter
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Contraceptive
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Diuretic
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Galactogogue
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Laxative
Plant part
Stems
Product or use
Resolvent
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Cancer
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Depurative
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Stimulant
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Stomachic
Plant part
Root
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

The peeled stems are very pliable and can be used in basket making[6]. Plants have sometimes been used as a ground cover, but their method of growth does not really lend themselves to this use[14].

Plant part
Stem
Product or use
Basketry

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Woods, hedges and thickets in mountainous areas[20]. Forest margins along streams, scrub on mountain slopes at elevations of 300 - 1500 metres in China[18].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
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. Surface sow in a light position[5]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[5]. Stored seed should be given 1 month cold stratification[4][5] and can be very difficult to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3][4]. The cuttings can be slow to root[12]. Cuttings can also be taken of soft wood in spring[4]. Root cuttings, December in a warm greenhouse[4]. Layering in early spring[1]. Very easy, the plants usually self-layer and so all you need to do is dig up the new plants and plant them out directly into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil[12]. Prefers a good loamy soil[3]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils[12]. Prefers partial shade but succeeds in full sun[19][12]. Succeeds on north facing walls[16]. Plants are fast growing and can be invasive[12]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c but they can be somewhat tender when young[12]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. This species grows very well in S.W. England[3]. Plants are evergreen in mild winters[3]. Resentful of root disturbance, either grow the plants in containers prior to planting them out or plant them out whilst very young[16]. Plants are not normally pruned, if they are growing too large they can be cut back by trimming them with shears in early spring[13]. The flowers have a spicy fragrance, reminiscent of vanilla[16]. Plants are shy to fruit, they possibly require some protection in the flowering season, hand pollination is advisable[19][3]. Plants are probably self-sterile[3][9], if possible at least 2 plants should be grown, each from a different source. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[12].

Crops

The medicinal part of the plant is the woody stem which is sliced in transverse sections and prepared as a decoction. The stems are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[17].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

  11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  13. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩

  14. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  15. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  19. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  20. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  21. Crawford, Martin Creating a Forest Garden Green Books (2012/08/13)

  22. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)

    ↩

  23. [Flora of China] (32202/01/01)

    ↩

  24. Reid,Daniel 962-593-988-1 A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs Tuttle Publishing ()

    • 962-593-988-1 A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs

  25. Wikipedia [[1]] Wikipedia (2012/08/13)

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