Laportea bulbifera - (Siebold.&Zucc.)Weddel.
(Siebold.&Zucc.)Weddel.
gbif· cc-by-nc
明悦
gbif· cc-by-nc
Tatjana Koroteeva
gbif· cc-by-nc
Tatjana Koroteeva
Description
Laportea bulbifera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to December. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious, they are used like spinach. Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs. It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting.
Known Hazards
The leaves have stinging hairs, much like stinging nettles to which they are related.
Distribution
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Far East (Far East), China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng (north), Gansu Sheng, Guangdong Sheng (north), Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (north), Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia
Cultivation
We have very little information on this plant and do not know how hardy it is, but it is succeeding outdoors at Kew on the sheltered sunny side of a woodland garden. It should succeed in most soils in semi-shade.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. 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 in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Other Uses
FibreA fibre is obtained from the stem, it is used for making nets, cordage etc. Up to 50 times stronger than cotton.
