Erythronium japonicum
Katakuri
a member of the Erythronium genus in the family Liliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Genus
- Erythronium
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, the following notes have been seen for another member of this genus and so some caution is advised. Skin contact with the bulbs has been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people[8].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bulb - raw or cooked. The source of a starch, called 'katakuri-ko' in Japan. It is used in dumplings, confectionery, as a thickener in soups etc[3][4]. It is preferred over other starches for use in sauces which must thicken but not gel upon cooling[4]. The bulb is about 1cm wide and up to 6cm long-266].
- Plant part
- Root
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
- Habitat
- Woods in lowland and low mountains of C. and N. Japan[9]. Moist places in forests, S Jilin and Liaoning provinces in hina[6].
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- 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 as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer, it should germinate in autumn or winter[2][5]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification[2]. Sow as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow the seed thinly so that it will not be necessary to prick them out for their first year of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed to the seedlings to make sure that they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for another 2 3 years and then plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant in late summer. Division of the bulbs in the summer as the leaves die down[1]. Larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on in a shady position in a greenhouse for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these contain plenty of humus[2]. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil[7][2]. Succeeds in almost any light soil, preferring one that is rich in humus[1]. Slugs love this plant and often eat out the leaves[9]. Flowers are produced in 3 - 4 years from seed[2]. Bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep[1]. According to some botanists, this species is no more than a variety of E. dens-canis[1].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1