Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Tang.&Wangenh.
Tropical kudzu
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Pueraria pseudohirsuta is a CLIMBER. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Edible Uses
Root. Rich in starch. The starch in the root can be extracted and used as a crispy coating in deep fried foods, or for thickening soups etc. It can also be made into noodles, or like agar or gelatine is used as a gelling agent for salads.
Medicinal Uses
Antispasmodic Antivinous Astringent Depurative Diaphoretic Dysentery Febrifuge. The flowers are antivinous. They are used in the treatment of thirst, high fever, abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting due to alcoholic intoxication. The root is antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic and febrifuge. It is used to relieve hunger. A decoction is used in the treatment of exposure-caused colds and fevers, incomplete measles rash breakout, diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis. The root contains puerarin. This increases the blood flow to the coronary artery and protects against acute myocardial ischaemia caused by the injection of pituitrin.
Distribution
E. Asia - China, Korea.
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Primorye), China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines PACIFIC: New Caledonia, Vanuatu
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. 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.
Propagation
Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a warm greenhouse in early spring. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Cover the young plants with a frame or cloche until they are growing away well.
