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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Atractylodes japonica is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. 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 and prefers well-drained soil. 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.

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Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:

Buds and young leaves[177]. No more details are given[K]. Root - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Antiemetic Appetizer Digestive Diuretic Expectorant Hepatic Hypoglycaemic Stomachic
Tonic

The rhizome is commonly used in Chinese and Korean herbal medicine[279]. It is antiemetic, appetizer, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, stomachic and tonic[174, 176, 178, 279]. The rhizome contains several medically active constituents including an essential oil and sesquiterpenes[279]. It has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels and to exert a protective influence on the liver[279]. It is used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders such as diarrhoea, water retention, mastitis, fistula, rheumatoid arthritis and night blindness[174, 176, 178, 279].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. This species is closely related to A. lancea[174]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade[238]. This species is dioecious. Both male and female plants need to be grown if seed is required[266]. Another report says that the plant is monoecious, bearing both female and bisexual flowers[279].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the following spring or early summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Primorye), China (Anhui Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Gansu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Atractylodes lancea	Cang Zhu	Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	3
Atractylodes macrocephala	Bai Zhu	Perennial	0.5	5-9		LMH	SN	M	0	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Atractylodes japonica - Koidz. ex Kitam.