Rohdea japonica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rohdea japonica
Rohdea japonica
1806 illustration[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Rohdea
Species:
R. japonica
Binomial name
Rohdea japonica
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[edit]

Traditional arrangement of Kinka Ikenobō school using omoto (Rohdea japonica)

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 Archived 2014-08-13 at the Wayback Machine). 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[edit]

  1. ^ Curtis's botanical magazine vol. 23 tabl. 898, http://www.botanicus.org/page/482623), John Sims (1749-1831)
  2. ^ a b 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.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to Rohdea japonica at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Rohdea japonica at Wikispecies
  • Flora of China: Rohdea japonica
  • "Rohdea japonica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  • Plants for a Future: Rohdea japonica


This Asparagaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rohdea_japonica&oldid=1213811474"