Reynoutria multiflora

(Thunb.) Moldenke

Climbing knotweed, Flowery knotweed, Chinese cornbind

PolygonaceaeLeavesRootsSeeds/NutsFlowersPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root, Rhizome, Seeds

The roots are washed, sliced, soaked overnight and boiled in changes of water to remove bitter compounds, then washed, steamed, re-boiled and eaten in tonic soups, porridges and wines. The large underground rhizome is used as food. The flowers are also eaten.

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Where to Find It

A subtropical plant. In Sichuan.

Asia, China*, India, Indochina, Japan*, Korea, Malaysia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A twining woody climber. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 3-4 m long. The stems are woody near the base. It loses its leaves during the year. It has large tuberous rhizomes. The stems are red when young. The leaves are light green and oval. The leaves are alternate and have a leaf stalk. The blade is oval and 5-7 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It tapers to a point at the end. The flowers are small and white or pink. They are in slender panicles or groups at the ends of branches. These can be 20-24 cm long. The fruit have 3 wings. It is a dry black 3 sided seed.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings or by division of the tuber.

Propagation: Seed - germination is usually free and easy. Sow the seed in containers and, when they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out when they are large enough. Division is very easy - larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade until they are well established before planting them out. Stem cuttings 30 - 40cm long.

Medicinal Uses

Pleuropterus multiflorus is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and is one of the most popular perennial traditional Chinese medicines. Caution must be taken, however, as overconsumption can lead to toxicity-induced hepatitis.

Production

Tubers are collected from plants that are 3-4 years old.

Notes

It is used in medicine. There are about 7 Fallopia species.

Names & Synonyms

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 480 (As Fallopia multiflora) Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 212 (As Fallopia multiflora) Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1824 (As Fallopia multiflora) Duke, J.A., 1992, Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press. p 155 (As Fallopia multiflora) Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 185 (As Fallopia multiflora) Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 511 (As Fallopia multiflora) Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 372 (As Polygonum multiflorum) Kim, H. & Song, M., 2013, Ethnobotanical analysis for traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in North Jeolla Province (Korea). Genetic. Resour. Crop Evol. (2013) 60:1571-1585 (As Fallopia multiflora) Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 67 (As Fallopia multiflora) Pham-Hoang Ho, 1999, An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. Nha Xuat Ban Tre. p 744 (As Fallopia multiflora) Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Fallopia multiflora) READ, (As Fallopia multiflora) Song, M., et al, 2013, Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in Jeju Island, Korea. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 12(2) pp 177-194 (As Fallopia multiflora) Wang, J. et al, 2013, A Study on the Utilization of Wild Plants for Food in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Plant Diversity and Resources. 35(4): 416-471 (As Fallopia multiflora) Wang, J., et al, 2020, An ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by the Yi people of Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 16:10 p 8