Cardamine yezoensis

Max.

Ainu wasabi, Risseri

Brassicaceae Edible: Leaves, Root 13 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cardamine yezoensis is a perennial reaching 50 cm tall, hardy to UK zone 5. Flowers bloom April through August with seeds ripening May to September. It prefers semi-shade to full sun and moist to wet soils across all soil types and pH ranges. Hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by bees, flies, and butterflies; the plant is self-fertile.

Description

A cabbage family herb. It keep growing from year to year. It has stolons or runners. The leaves have 5-7 leaflets. They have short teeth. There are many flowers in a group.

Edible Uses

Both the leaves and the root can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves have a hot, peppery flavour.

Traditional Uses

The tender leaves and rhizomes are eaten in spring.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a moist humus rich soil in shade or semi-shade but succeeds in most soils that are not dry.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Germination typically occurs within 1–3 weeks at 15°C. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for the first two years, planting out when dormant in late summer. Divide clumps in early spring or after summer die-back. Larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, though smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted, then planted out in spring.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 160 Cardamine species. They are mostly in damp places in temperate regions.

Synonyms

Cardamine akitensis MochozukiCardamine amariformis NakaiCardamine fauriei Franch.Cardamine fauriei f. geifolia (Koidz.) Koidz.Cardamine fauriei var. incisa H. BoissieuCardamine fauriei var. oblonga H. BoissieuCardamine geifolia Koidz.Cardamine kiusiana H. HaraCardamine prorepens f. valida TakedaCardamine torrentis NakaiCardamine valida (Takeda) NakaiCardamine yezoensis var. kiusiana (H. Hara) OhwiCardamine yezoensis var. torrentis (Nakai) Ohwi

References (3)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 82
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (Also as Cardamine amaraeiformis and Cardamine fauriei)
www.theplantlist.org