Kadsura japonica
common speciesThe kadsura or kadsura vine is in the Schisandsraceae family and is native to China and Japan (Honshū, Kyūshū and the Ryukyu Islands). It grows up to 4.6 m tall. It is an ornamental plant in gardens and also has edible fruit.
- Leaves are alternate, obovate oblong, 5–13 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, margins waved with short spines, apex is obtuse or short acuminate, entire plant is glabrous; petiole is up to 2.5 cm long; flowering from March to August.
- The plant can be monoecious or dioecious; flowers are single, creamy white, unisexual, 4 cm long, in late summer and early autumn, 2 cm wide, fragrant (butter-acid).
- Fruit is a cluster of bright red or scarlet berries, nearly spherical, each berry 5 mm across, up to 30 berries in the head, on a 4–6 cm long stem; ripening is from August to November.
- Twigs are reddish, older twigs covered with brownish lenticels; buds are sharp.
Contributors
- Ross Bayton
- ashitaka Japan