Houttuynia
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| iHouttuynia cordata | ||||||||||||||
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| Houttuynia cordata Thunb. |
Houttuynia cordata (Chinese: 鱼腥草; pinyin: yúxīng cǎo; literally "fishy-smell herb"), the sole species in the genus Houttuynia, is a flowering plant native to Japan, southern China and Southeast Asia, where it inhabits moist, shady places.
It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to between 20 and 80 cm tall. The proximal part of the stem is trailing and produces adventitious roots, while the distal part of the stem grows vertically. The leaves are alternate, broad heart-shaped, 4-9 cm long and 3-8 cm broad. The flowers are greenish-yellow, borne on a terminal spike 2-3 cm long with 4-6 large white basal bracts.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
It is grown as a leaf vegetable, particularly in Vietnam, where it is called giấp cá or diếp cá and is used as a fresh herbal garnish. The leaf has an unusual taste that is often described as fishy, so it is not enjoyed as universally as basil, mint, or other more commonly used herbs.
It is also used as an herbal medicine. The beverage dokudami cha (Japanese: ドクダミ茶; literally "Houttuynia cordata tea") is an infusion made from Houttuynia cordata leaves, Oolong tea leaves, and Job's Tears.[1] In the southwestern Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, adventitious roots are used as a root vegetable. English names include heartleaf and lizardtail.
[edit] References and external links
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