Practical
Plants

Cryptotaenia japonica

Mitsuba

a perennial evergreen member of the Cryptotaenia genus in the family Umbelliferae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves and stems - raw or cooked[5][9][1]. Used as a flavouring with a parsley-like flavour if you let your imagination run away with you[K]. Seedlings and young leaves can be used in salads[7]. When cooking, the leaves should not be cooked for more than a couple of minutes or the flavour is destroyed[7]. The leaves contain about 2.3% protein, 0.23% fat, 4.4% carbohydrate, 2.1% ash[3]. Root - raw or cooked[5][9][1][4]. Blanched stem - a celery substitute[5][1]. The seed is used as a seasoning.

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

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.

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

Women's complaints. Used in the treatment of haemorrhages, colds, fevers etc[2].

Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Women's complaints

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Woodland in hills and mountains[9][10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
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 - sow April in a greenhouse. Germination is usually rapid, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The ideal temperature for sowing is about 25°c, though seed does germinate at higher and lower temperatures[7]. Seed can also be sown in early autumn[7]. Division in spring or autumn.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist shady position under trees where it often self-sows[9]. The leaves tend to turn yellow when plants are grown in full sun[7]. This species is not winter-hardy in all areas of Britain, though plants can tolerate short periods at temperatures down to -10°c[7]. Mitsuba is commonly cultivated as a vegetable in Japan, there are some named varieties[4]. It is usually grown as an annual[7]. It is closely allied to C. canadensis, and is considered to be no more than a synonym of that species by some botanists[6]. This plant is adored by slugs and snails and must be protected when small or when new growth is emerging in the spring[K].

References

  1. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  3. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  7. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

  9. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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