Practical
Plants

Kalopanax septemlobus

Tree Aralia

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Kalopanax genus in the family Araliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves and young shoots - cooked[2][4].

Plant part
Leaves

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.

The bark contains a range of bio-active constituents, including saponins, flavonoids and lignans[8]. It has antifungal and liver protecting properties[8]. It is used in Korea in the treatment of contusions, beri-beri, lumbago, neuralgia and pleurisy[8]. An infusion of the leaves is used to make a stomachic tea[6]. The root is expectorant[6]. A decoction of the wood is used for skin diseases[3][6].

Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Antifungal
Product or use
Hepatic

Material uses

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

The bark and the leaves are used as an insecticide[3]. Wood[7].

Product or use
Insecticide

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Cool deciduous forests from near sea level to elevations of 2500 metres[1][5][7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[5]. Stored seed probably requires a period of cold stratification and should be sown as soon as possible. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5]. Root cuttings in late winter.

Cultivation

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

Requires a deep fertile moisture-retentive soil in sun or part shade[5]. Young shoots, especially on young plants, can die back over winter if they are not fully ripened[1]. Young plants are slow-growing[5]. The tree is widely cultivated for timber in China[7]. A polymorphic species[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  5. 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. 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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3

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