Practical
Plants

Metaplexis japonica

a deciduous member of the Metaplexis genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2][4][5]. Young fruits - raw or pickled[2]. Root - cooked[8][10][2].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

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 seed and the leaves are haemostatic and tonic[4][6]. The hairs on the seeds are styptic whilst the pounded leaves are applied to abscesses and swellings[6]. The stems and roots are used as medicine for traumatic injury, snake bites, impotence, and infantile malnutrition due to intestinal parasites[7].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

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

The seed hairs could possibly be used as a stuffing material for pillows etc[1, K].

Product or use
Stuffing

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Sunny slopes and thickets in hills and low mountains[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
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 - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a greenhouse. 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. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, the plants succeed outdoors in south-west England but are apt to be cut to the ground by severe frosts[1][3]. Cultivated as a vegetable in China[4].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  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

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

    ↩

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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