Practical
Plants

Rohdea japonica

Nippon Lily · Sacred Lily · Omoto

a perennial member of the Rohdea genus in the family Convallariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rohdea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

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 leaves and the roots are depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[7][2].They are used in the treatment of abscesses, boils, sore throat etc[2][4]. The roots are used externally as a poultice and internally as a heart and nerve tonic[4]. The plant shows cardiac activity, rather like digitoxin (in Digitalis purpurea)[4].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

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

The plant has shown insecticidal activity[4].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S.W. China, Japan.
Habitat
Thickets and woods in the warmer areas of C. and S. Japan[6]. Moist places in forests, grassy slopes at elevations of 700 - 1700 metres in China[5].
Light
indirect sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
True
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a position in semi-shade in a moderately fertile humus-rich and moisture-retentive soil[3]. Plants are not particular as to the soil type[1].

References

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

    ↩

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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