Metaplexis japonica - (Thunb.)Makino.

(Thunb.)Makino.

Rough potato

Asclepiadaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Root

gbif· cc0

Bell Museum, University of Minnesota

gbif· cc0

Bell Museum, University of Minnesota

gbif· cc0

Bell Museum, University of Minnesota

Description

Metaplexis japonica is a deciduous Climber growing to 8 m (26ft 3in). It is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). 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 - raw or cooked. Young fruits - raw or pickled. Root - cooked.

Medicinal Uses

Astringent Haemostatic Tonic. The seed and the leaves are haemostatic and tonic. The hairs on the seeds are styptic whilst the pounded leaves are applied to abscesses and swellings. The stems and roots are used as medicine for traumatic injury, snake bites, impotence, and infantile malnutrition due to intestinal parasites.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Where It Grows

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Manchuria), Korea, Japan

Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, the plants succeed outdoors in south-west England but are apt to be cut to the ground by severe frosts. Cultivated as a vegetable in China.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.