Akebia quinata

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Akebia quinata
Akebia quinata02.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Lardizabalaceae
Genus: Akebia
Species:
A. quinata
Binomial name
Akebia quinata
(Houtt.) Decne.
Synonyms

Rajania quinata Houtt.

Akebia quinata, commonly known as chocolate vine, five-leaf chocolate vine,[1] or five-leaf akebia, is a shrub that is native to Japan, China and Korea, and invasive in the eastern United States from Georgia to Michigan to Massachusetts.[2][3][4] In its native habitat, it is often found on hills, in hedges, on trees, along forest edges and streams, and on mountainous slopes.[5]

Description[]

Akebia quinata is a climbing evergreen shrub that grows to 10 m (30 ft) or more in height and has palmately compound leaves with five elliptic or obovate leaflets that are notched at the tip.[6] The woody stems are greyish-brown with lenticels.[5] The flowers are clustered in racemes and are chocolate-scented, with three or four sepals. The fruits are sausage-shaped pods which contain edible pulp.[2][7] The gelatinous placentation contains seeds surrounded with white pulp, that has a sweet flavor.[citation needed]

Uses[]

The fruit contains a sweet soft pulp resembling a white dragonfruit, eaten primarily in Japan as a seasonal delicacy. The rind, with a slight bitter taste, is used as vegetable, e.g., stuffed with ground meat and deep-fried. The vines are traditionally used for basket-weaving.[8]

The stem contains approximately 30% potassium salts thus causing a diuretic action.[9][unreliable medical source?]

Cultivation[]

Akebia prefers sandy soils with good drainage, and regular watering, though it is drought-resistant.[10] In some areas the plant is an invasive species to be avoided.[11][12] This species in considered hardy in all of the UK and Europe (down to -15 to -20°C).[6] In the US, it suitable for hardiness zones 4-9.[13]

Etymology[]

Akebia comes from the Japanese vernacular name, 'akebi' (アケビ).[14]

Quinata means 'divided into five', and is presumably a reference to its lobed leaves.[14]

Gallery[]

  • Female flower and 5 male flowers in Mount Ibuki

  • Fruit

  • Sketch

  • flower parts

In Media[]

The Milkfruit used in the animated show "The Dragon Prince" is based on this vine.

See also[]

  • Kampo herb list

References[]

  1. ^ English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 345. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Levy-Yamamori, Ran; Ran Levy; Gerard Taaffe (2004). Garden Plants of Japan. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-650-7. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  3. ^ "Akebia quinata". Flora of China. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  4. ^ "Flora of North America vol 3". Efloras.org. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Thompson, John Peter (November 22, 2019). "Akebia quinata (five-leaf akebia)". CABI Invasive Species Compendium. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Akebia quinata | chocolate vine/RHS Gardening". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  7. ^ "Decaisne, Joseph. Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle 1: 195, pl. 13a. 1839". Biodiversitylibrary.org. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  8. ^ taken from ja:アケビ (2011.11.3(Thu) 12:08)
  9. ^ Reid, Daniel (2001), "A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs", Tuttle Publishing, ISBN 962-593-988-1. Retrieved on 2009-05-20.
  10. ^ "Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine)".
  11. ^ "PlantFiles: Akebia Species, Chocolate Vine, Five-Leaf Akebia, Raisin Vine".
  12. ^ "Chocolate-Scented Flowers Make Akebia Vine Unique".
  13. ^ "Five Leaf Akebia Info". www.gardeningknowhow.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 40, 324

External links[]

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