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Useful Tropical Plants

Kadsura japonica

(L.) Dunal

Schisandraceae

+ Synonyms

Kadsura matsudae Hayata

Schisandra japonica (L.) Baill.

Common Name:

Kadsura japonica
Fruiting branches
Photograph by: Alpsdake
Creative Commons License
Kadsura japonica Kadsura japonica Kadsura japonica Kadsura japonica

General Information

Kadsura japonica is an evergreen, climbing shrub
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of mucilage. It is often grown as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics, valued especially for its foliage (often variegated) and scarlet fruits[
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses

Range

E. Asia - southern China, central and southern Japan, southern Korea.

Habitat

Climbs trees in woodlands[
58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
]. Forests and slopes at elevations of 500 - 2,000 metres in Fujian and Taiwan Provinces, China[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Climber
Height3.50 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in any fertile garden soil[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
]. Requires a sheltered position in a moderately fertile well-drained neutral to acid soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a position in semi-shade[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].
The flowers emit a soft sweet perfume[
245
Title
Scented Flora of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Genders. R.
Publisher
Robert Hale. London.
Year
1994
ISBN
0-7090-5440-8
Description
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
Flowers are produced on the current year's growth[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
]. Plants do not really require pruning[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].
Plants can be monoecious or dioecious. When dioecious, both, male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
,
1013
Title
Sargentia Vol VII
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
The Arnold Arboretum; Massachusetts
Year
1947
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this volume has a treatment of the families of Illiciaceae and Scisandraceae
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
,
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
]. The red to purple aggregate fruit is composed of around 34 - 40 apocarps, each 5 - 8mm long and 5 - 8mm wide, containing 1 - 3 seeds[
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
].

Medicinal

A decoction of the dried fruits is bechic, stomachic and tonic[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
,
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
]. It is used in the treatment of kidney diseases[
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
].

The dried fruits are the source of 'Fructus Kadsurae'. The drug is used in traditional medicine as a tonic, stimulant, antitussive, beneficial to kidneys and lungs and is prescribed in cough and asthma. The drug is often used as a substitute for Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

A viscid material is extracted from the fruit and used as a hair-dressing[
1013
Title
Sargentia Vol VII
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
The Arnold Arboretum; Massachusetts
Year
1947
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this volume has a treatment of the families of Illiciaceae and Scisandraceae
].
A viscid derivative of the bark has been used as a pomade for hair-dressing[
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
].

A mucilaginous extract from the leaves has been used in traditional Japanese washi paper manufacture[
1013
Title
Sargentia Vol VII
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
The Arnold Arboretum; Massachusetts
Year
1947
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this volume has a treatment of the families of Illiciaceae and Scisandraceae
,
1014
Title
Monograph of Kadsura (Schisandraceae)
Publication
Systematic Botany Monographs Vol. 54
Author
Saunders R.M.K.
Publisher
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Michigan
Year
1998
ISBN
0-912861-54-1
Description
A detailed monograph of the genus Kadsura, mentioning plant uses
].
A mucilaginous fluid obtained from the plant (part no specified, but probably the fruit[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]), is used in paper-making[
1013
Title
Sargentia Vol VII
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
The Arnold Arboretum; Massachusetts
Year
1947
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this volume has a treatment of the families of Illiciaceae and Scisandraceae
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a nursery seedbed.. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on until they are large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel. Good percentage[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Layering of long shoots in the autumn[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Kadsura+japonica>

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