Oplopanax japonicus
| Oplopanax japonicus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Oplopanax japonicus
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[1]. 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.
Division of suckers in the dormant season.
Root cuttings in a greenhouse in the winter[2].
Cultivation: Requires a cool moist soil[3][1]. Prefers a position in light shade[4]. Prefers dense shade and is probably best if grown in moist woodland[5][3]. Tolerates maritime exposure[1]. (Rather a strange report for a plant that needs to be grown in dense shade[K])
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c, but the young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts[3][1]. It is therefore best not grown in a frost pocket[4].
This species used to be included in O. horridus as the Japanese form of that species, but it has recently (1991) been recognised as a distinct species[1].
A very ornamental plant, but it is densely armed with spikes[6]. It transplants easily and also tolerates pruning[1].
The leaves and stems are excessively spiny[4].
Range: E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat: Moist woods, especially by streams[3] and usually in rich soils[7].
Edibility: Young shoots - peeled and then cooked[8][9][10][11]. Only the very young shoots are used[12].
The roots can be chewed after peeling[10][11][13].
Medicinal: The root bark and stems are analgesic, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, hypoglycaemic and tonic[12].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is densely armed with spikes and these spikes are irritant[1]. Although no specific mention has been seen for this plant, it belongs to a genus where the species are usually rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mout
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.