Herb latin name: Rubia chinensis


Synonyms: Rubia mitis


Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)



Edible parts of Rubia chinensis:

Leaves - cooked. A famine food, it is used when all else fails.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
10 cm
(4 inches)

Flowering:
May to
June

Habitat of the herb:

Deciduous forests at elevations of 500 - 1600 metres in mountains all over Japan.

Propagation of Rubia chinensis:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation of the herb:

Deciduous forests at elevations of 500 - 1600 metres in mountains all over Japan.

Medicinal use of Rubia chinensis:

None known

Known hazards of Rubia chinensis:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.