Akebia
Encyclopedia
Akebia is a genus
of five species of flowering plant
, within the family Lardizabalaceae
. The scientific name, akebia, is a Latinization of the Japanese
name for species Akebia quinata: .
There are five species including:
as an "unwanted organism" in New Zealand since it is an invasive plant
.
It is also considered invasive in several states in the eastern United States, according to the Plant Conservation Alliance.
, where it is evocative of pastoral settings. The akebia fruit, though sometimes eaten by itself, is commonly served stuffed with a miso
and chicken mixture.
The dried leaves are made into a tea in Japan.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of five species of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
, within the family Lardizabalaceae
Lardizabalaceae
Lardizabalaceae is a family of flowering plants.The family has been universally recognized by taxonomists, including the APG II system , which places it in the order Ranunculales, in the clade eudicots....
. The scientific name, akebia, is a Latinization of the Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
name for species Akebia quinata: .
There are five species including:
- Akebia chingshuiensis T. Shimizu, native to TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
- Akebia longeracemosa Matsumura, native to ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following... - Akebia quinataAkebia quinataAkebia quinata is a shrub that is native to Japan, China and Korea.It grows to 10 metres or more in height and has compound leaves with five leaflets. The inflorescences are clustered in racemes and are chocolate-scented, with three or four sepals. The fruits are sausage-shaped pods which contain...
(Houttuyn) Decaisne – Chocolate Vine or Five-leaf Akebia, native to ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the... - Akebia trifoliata (Thunberg) Koidzumi – Three-leaf Akebia, native to ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
- Akebia trifoliata subsp. australis (Diels) T. Shimizu
- Akebia trifoliata subsp. longisepala H. N. Qin
- Akebia trifoliata subsp. trifoliata
Invasive plant
Akebia quinata is listed under the National Pest Plant AccordNational Pest Plant Accord
The National Pest Plant Accord identifies pest plants that are prohibited from sale and commercial propagation and distribution across New Zealand....
as an "unwanted organism" in New Zealand since it is an invasive plant
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
.
It is also considered invasive in several states in the eastern United States, according to the Plant Conservation Alliance.
Akebia in Japan
Akebia is often mentioned in Japanese literatureJapanese literature
Early works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
, where it is evocative of pastoral settings. The akebia fruit, though sometimes eaten by itself, is commonly served stuffed with a miso
Miso
is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and/or soybeans, with salt and the fungus , the most typical miso being made with soy. The result is a thick paste used for sauces and spreads, pickling vegetables or meats, and mixing with dashi soup stock to serve as miso...
and chicken mixture.
The dried leaves are made into a tea in Japan.
External links
- Akebia: Three Varieties including photographs by Paghat's Garden
- Akebia: Edible Fruits including photographs by Paghat's Garden