Siphonostegia chinensis
Benth.
Chi-jou-ts'ai
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no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
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no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
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(c) 羅元甫, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 羅元甫
Summary
Source: WikipediaAn annual plant reaching 0.5 m in height. Flowers from June to August. Hermaphroditic with self-fertile flowers. Tolerates light sandy to heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.
Description
A herb. It grows each year from seed. It is 30-60 cm tall. The branches are angled and hairy. The leaves are almost without leaf stalks. The leaves are broadly oval and 1-6 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. They are hairy. They are divided into 3 pairs of leaflets and the lowest pair are divided. There are a few flowers in a group. They are tube shape and the upper parts are red-purple and the lower parts yellow.
Edible Uses
The fruit is edible. The seed capsule is approximately 15 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. No further details are recorded.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. In China it grows on dry mountain slopes between 800-3,400 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species but it should succeed as a spring-sown annual in Britain. See the plants native habitat for ideas on its cultivation needs.
Propagation
Sow seed in spring in situ.
Other Uses
None known Special Uses
References (3)
- Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 4083
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Scroph.Ind.51(Bot.Reg.June 1835,Sub T.1770). 1835
