Rohdea japonica

Rohdea japonica
Rohdea japonica
1806 illustration[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Rohdea
Species: R. japonica
Binomial name
Rohdea japonica
Roth
Synonyms[2]
  • Orontium japonicum Thunb. in J.A.Murray
  • Orontium liliifolium Salisb.
  • Rohdea esquirolii H.Lév.
  • Rohdea sinensis H.Lév.
  • Rohdea japonica var. latifolia Hatus.

Rohdea japonica is a species of plant native to Japan, China and Korea.[2][3][4][5] Common names include Nippon lily, sacred lily, and Japanese sacred lily.

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, with fibrous roots. The leaves are evergreen, broad lanceolate, 15–50 cm long and 2.5–7 cm broad, with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in a short, stout, dense spike 3–4 cm long, each flower pale yellowish, 4–5 mm long. The fruit is a red berry 8 mm diameter, produced in a tight cluster of several together.

Cultivation and uses

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. In Chinese it is called wan nian qing (simplified: 万年青; traditional: 萬年青; lit. "evergreen"), and for this reason has been used symbolically in visual culture (e.g. on Mao badges). In Japanese it is called omoto.

The plant is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, though it is generally regarded as inedible and possibly toxic.

References

  1. ↑ Curtis's botanical magazine vol. 23 tabl. 898, http://www.botanicus.org/page/482623), John Sims (1749-1831)
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ↑ Tanaka, N. (2010). A taxonomic revision of the genus Rohdea (Asparagaceae). Makinoa , n.s., 9: 1-54.
  4. ↑ Ohwi, J. (1984). Flora of Japan (in English): 1-1067. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C..
  5. ↑ Lee, W.T. (1996). Lineamenta Florae Koreae: 1-1688. Soul T'ukpyolsi: Ak'ademi Sojok.


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