Mondo grass

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Mondo Grass
In fruit, close-up
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Liliales Family: Ruscaceae Genus: Ophiopogon Species: O. japonicus
Binomial name
Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl.

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus), also known as monkey grass, is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial plant. The leaves are linear, 20-40 cm long. The flowers are white to pale lilac, borne in a short raceme on a 5-10 cm stem. The fruit is a blue berry 5 mm diameter.

It is usually placed in family Ruscaceae, although it has been placed in other families in the past, notably Liliaceae. The name of the genus is derived from Greek ophis, "snake", and pogon, "beard", most probably referring to its leaves. The epithet refers to Japan. It is called ryu-no-hige ("dragon's beard") or ja-no-hige ("snake's beard") in Japanese.

In Chinese medicine Ophiopogon japonicus tuber, known as mai men dong, is the cardinal herb for yin deficiency. According to the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, the herb is sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, enters the Heart, Lung and Stomach channels and nourishes the yin of the Stomach, Spleen, Heart and Lungs and clears heat and quiets irritability. It is used for hacking dry coughs, dry tongue and mouth and constipation. Liriope (genus) is used as a substitute.^[1]

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Habit, in fruit