Sophora japonica
Japanese Pagoda Tree
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Sophora genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Sophora
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 20 m
- Spread
- 20 m
- 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.
The plant contains cytosine, which resembles nicotine and is similarly toxic[16].
Edible uses
Young leaves and flowers - cooked[8][11]. The leaves need to be cooked in three lots of water in order to remove the bitterness[10]. This will also remove most of the vitamins and minerals[K]. The leaves are a rich source of rutin, they contain much more than the usual commercial source, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)[6]. The ovaries, before the flowers open, contain up to 40% rutin[14]. A tea can be made from the young leaves and flowers[11]. An edible starch is obtained from the seed[11].
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Starch
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 species is commonly used in Chinese medicine and is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[14]. It came second in a study of 250 potential antifertility agents[14]. Diuretic, emollient, febrifuge, tonic[3][4][6][9]. The flowers and flower buds are antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, haemostatic and hypotensive[3][4][6][7][9][14][16][17]. The ovaries, especially just before the plant flowers, are a rich source of rutin and this is a valuable hypotensive agent[14]. The buds, flowers and pods are concocted and used in the treatment of a variety of ailments[14] including internal haemorrhages, poor peripheral circulation, internal worms etc[16]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women[16]. The seedpods are abortifacient[14]. The seed is emetic and haemostatic[14]. It is used in the treatment of haemorrhoids, haematuria, uterine bleeding, constipation, stuffy sensation in the chest, dizziness, red eyes, headache and hypertension[7].It should be used with caution since it is toxic[14]. The leaves are laxative[14]. They are used in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsions[14]. A decoction of the stems is used in the treatment of piles, sore eyes and skin problems[14].
- Plant part
- Whole, Seedpods
- Product or use
- Abortifacient
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Hypotensive
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Purgative
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Styptic
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Procirculatory
- Plant part
- Whole
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Plant part
- Whole
- Product or use
- Emollient
- Plant part
- Whole
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Plant part
- Whole
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Plant part
- Stems
- Preparation
- Cooked
- Product or use
- Skin
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Laxative, Antiepileptic
Material uses
A yellow dye is obtained from the seedpods and the flowers[18][19][2][9]. It is green when mixed with indigo[5]. Wood - tough, light, strong, of superior quality. Used in carpentry[2][6].
- Plant part
- Seeds, Flowers
- Product or use
- Dye
- Plant part
- Stem
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - N. China, Japan, Korea.
- Habitat
- Open country between 300 and 1000 metres in W. China[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[13]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[20]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[3]. Air-layering[13].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[13]. Tolerates poor soils, atmospheric pollution, heat and, once established, drought[13]. Hardy to about -25° when mature, but it can be damaged by severe frosts when it is young[13]. A very ornamental[1] and fast growing tree[13], it grows best in hot summers[12]. It grows best in the warmer areas of the country where the wood will be more readily ripened and better able to withstand winter cold[15]. Trees take 30 years to come into flower from seed.[13], but they do not often ripen their seed in Britain[3]. Cultivated in China for the rutin contained in its leaves and ovaries[14]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[15]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[13]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[13].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Wilson. E. H. and Trollope. M. N. Corean Flora. Royal Asiatic Society 1918-00-00
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00