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its vine turns left. The fibrous roots are used for medicine by
drying. The tubers are eaten steamed, and are also used to make
starch. Another kind with lobed leaves is bitter and can not
be eaten.
460. Heterosmilax japonica, Kuuth.,3wp. Sankirai /
an evergreen climbing herb of the order Smilacese. It is a diaecious
plant. In spring
it shoots forth vines, with hooked tendrils
under each leaf and with about 10 purplish green flowers on the
axils of leaves, being succeeded with small round black fruits.
The tubular roots are used for medicine when dried. There are
several varieties with narrow or round leaves.
461. Stemone japonica, Miq. t
Jap. Hodotsura; a perennial
herb of the order Koxburghiaceae. There are two kinds,
standing and climbing. The variety here mentioned is the climbing
one. In summer it yields one or two flowers in the centre of
the leaves. Many oblong small tubers attached to the roots are
dried and used for medicine.
462. Gastrodia elata, BL> Jap. Nusubito-no-ashi, Kamijio-yagara
; a parasite of the order Orehidaceae growing wild in
mountains. In early summer it shoots forth a straight yellowish
red stem to a height of 4-5 fts., bearing flowers in panicles at the
head. In autumn the stems and roots die. The tubers growing
laterally to a length of about 10 inches with a diameter of an inch
are used for medicine.
463. Curcuma longa, L., Jap. Kyo-o, Haru-ukon ; a
perennial herb of the order Zingiberacea3. It resembles Ukon
(379), with white hair under the leaves. Late in spring, it shoots
forth stalks to a height of 68 inches, bearing 2 yellow flowers.
The tuberous roots are dried and used for medicine. They have
the smell of ginger, and are yellow.
464. Amomum, Jap. Gajutsu, Usuguro ; a perennial
herb of the order Zingiberaceu). It resembles the preceding in
shape, with dark purple variegation in the centre of the leaves.