Chengiopanax sciadophylloides

(Franch. & Sav.) C. B. Shang & J. Y. Huang

Araliaceae Edible: Shoots 78 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Chengiopanax sciadophylloides is a flowering tree in the family Araliaceae native to Japan. Previously included in the genus Eleutherococcus, it is distinguished from other members of that genus by not having spines or prickles and ITS sequence data confirmed the separation.

Description

A temperate tree in the Araliaceae family with edible shoots.

This description is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Known as koshiabura (コシアブラ), gonzetsu and gonzetsunoki in Japanese cuisine, it is foraged in the wild in spring for the young leaves as sansai ("mountain vegetables"). It is called the "queen of sansai" and often used in tempura, but also popular in a range of dishes. The highest grade of buds is as small as a calligraphy brush, and thus called fude ha ("leaf of brush"). A decoction of the roots, tea of the root bark, and tea of the leaf were used in Niigata Prefecture as a folk remedy. A lacquer-like coating material called kinshitsu (金漆) used to be made from the sap. The polyacetylenes in the plant sap were polymerised by sunlight to produce the hard resin varnish. Two other members of the Araliaceae, Dendropanax trifidus and Gamblea innovans, may also have been sources for this lacquer in Japan. The lacquer was used to prevent corrosion of suits of armour and helmets, with related species providing a similar lacquer used in China during the Tang dynasty and in Korea. The wood is used for general construction and for chopsticks. The wood is regarded as auspicious and is valued in the Sasano-Bori doll carving tradition in Yonezawa (along with the wood of the Pagoda Tree) for its strength and flexibility.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Japan,

Synonyms

Acanthopanax sciadophylloides Franch. & Sav.Acanthopanax sciadophylloides f. albovariegatus SugayaEleutherococcus sciadophylloides (Franch. & Sav.) H. OhashiEleutherococcus sciadophylloides f. albovariegatus (Sugaya) H. OhashiKalopanax sciadophylloides (Franch. & Sav.) Harms

Also Known As

Koshiabura

References (4)

Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 13(1): 48 1993.
Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 22 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf (As Acanthopanax sciadophylloides)
H. G. A. Engler & K. A. E. Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(8):51. 1897
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Kalopanax sciadophylloides)