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Actinidia chinensis

a deciduous member of the Actinidia genus in the family Actinidiaceae.

Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Actinidia chinensis has 0 edible uses listed
Actinidia chinensis has 0 material uses listed
Actinidia chinensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked. A delicious flavour. The fruit is up to 3cm across[1]. Fresh fruits contain 100 - 420mg vitamin C per 100g and 8 - 14% carbohydrate[2]. Acidity is 1 - 2%, mainly citric acid[2]. The fruit contains a number of small seeds, but these are easily eaten with the fruit[K]. The leaves are eaten cooked in times of need as a famine food[3].

Fruit

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

Paper is made from the bark[4].

If the bark is removed in one piece from near the root and placed in hot ashes, it becomes very hard and can be used as a tube for a pencil[4].

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties (no more details)[2].

Unknown part

Insecticide
Paper
Pencil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative[5]. They are used in the treatment of stones in the urinary tract, rheumatoid arthralgia, cancers of the liver and oesophagus[5].

A decoction of the leaves is used to treat mange in dogs[2].

The stem-juice is used in the treatment of gravel[2].

Unknown part

Diuretic
Febrifuge
Sedative

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[6]. It is probably best if the seed is given 3 months stratification[7], either sow it in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in November or as soon as it is received. Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°c, stored seed can take longer[6]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. When the plants are 30cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K]. Most seedlings are male[8]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, they must be kept well ventilated[7].

Cuttings of softwood as soon as ready in spring in a frame[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very high percentage[7].

Cuttings of ripe wood, October/November in a frame.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Actinidia chinensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a sound loamy neutral soil[9][10]. Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production[10]. Prefers a sheltered position[10].

The dormant plant is hardy to about -15°c[11], though new growth in spring is very susceptible to frost damage[12]. This species is the parent of the cultivated Kiwi fruits, these cultivars are now included under the name A. deliciosa[10]. Fruits are formed on second year wood and also on fruit spurs on older wood[8], any pruning is best carried out in the winter[13]. The flowers are sweetly scented[14]. This is a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc[10]. The ssp. A. chinensis setosa.(newly named, no author as yet) is found in Taiwan from 1300 - 2600m[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Actinidia chinensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Actinidia chinensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Actinidia chinensis
Genus
Actinidia
Family
Actinidiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
[5][2]
Material uses & Functions
[4][2]
Botanic
[1][10]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Climber
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    7.5 x meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Li. H. L. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Volume 32. Arnold Arboretum. (1952-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.7 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    6. ? 6.06.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 ? The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. Royal Horticultural Society (1984-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.510.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)
    12. ? Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    13. ? Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins ISBN 0-00-219220-0 (1983-00-00)
    14. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-109" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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    Facts about "Actinidia chinensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyActinidiaceae +
    Belongs to genusActinidia +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFruit + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile +, Bee + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useInsecticide +, Paper + and Pencil +
    Has mature height7.5 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDiuretic +, Febrifuge + and Sedative +
    Has search nameactinidia chinensis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameActinidia chinensis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheClimber +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +