Cryptotaenia japonica
| Cryptotaenia japonica | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Cryptotaenia japonica (common name: mitsuba)
Propagation: Seed - sow April in a greenhouse. Germination is usually rapid, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The ideal temperature for sowing is about 25°c, though seed does germinate at higher and lower temperatures[1]. Seed can also be sown in early autumn[1].
Division in spring or autumn.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist shady position under trees where it often self-sows[2]. The leaves tend to turn yellow when plants are grown in full sun[1].
This species is not winter-hardy in all areas of Britain, though plants can tolerate short periods at temperatures down to -10°c[1].
Mitsuba is commonly cultivated as a vegetable in Japan, there are some named varieties[3]. It is usually grown as an annual[1]. It is closely allied to C. canadensis, and is considered to be no more than a synonym of that species by some botanists[4].
This plant is adored by slugs and snails and must be protected when small or when new growth is emerging in the spring[K].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat: Woodland in hills and mountains[2][5].
Edibility: Leaves and stems - raw or cooked[6][2][7]. Used as a flavouring with a parsley-like flavour if you let your imagination run away with you[K]. Seedlings and young leaves can be used in salads[1]. When cooking, the leaves should not be cooked for more than a couple of minutes or the flavour is destroyed[1]. The leaves contain about 2.3% protein, 0.23% fat, 4.4% carbohydrate, 2.1% ash[8].
Root - raw or cooked[6][2][7][3].
Blanched stem - a celery substitute[6][7].
The seed is used as a seasoning.
Medicinal: Women's complaints. Used in the treatment of haemorrhages, colds, fevers etc[9].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: C. canadense japonica.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Larkcom, Joy. Oriental Vegetables. John Murray, 1991.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1986.
- ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.