Heterophylly false-starwort is a small spring woodland wildflower of China, Korea, and Japan. It does not grow wild in the US. Its plump, spindle-shaped roots are used in Chinese medicine, where they are called taizishen ("prince ginseng") and are considered a milder tonic than ginseng.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A low perennial, about 4–8 in (10–20 cm) tall, with single upright stems rising from fleshy, spindle-shaped tuberous roots.
- Leaves
- Leaves are opposite. The upper leaves are larger and lance-shaped and bunch together so they look like a whorl of four; the lower leaves are narrow.
- Flowers
- Small white flowers with five slightly notched petals and dark red . Some flowers near the ground never open and pollinate themselves.
- Flowering time
- Spring; April to May in Japan and around May in Korea.
- Fruit
- A small rounded capsule that splits open to release the seeds.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Deciduous forest floors
- Forest edges
- Range
- Native to China, Korea, and Japan (Honshu and northern Kyushu). It is also grown as a medicinal crop in many Chinese provinces, such as Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shandong.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In traditional Chinese medicine it is used to support the qi and moisten the lungs, and is sometimes called "the ginseng of the lungs."
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