日本南五味子 ri ben nan wu wei zi

Uvaria japonica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 536. 1753; Kadsura matsudae Hayata.

Plants glabrous throughout. Petiole 0.6-2.3 cm; leaf blade elliptic to rarely ovate-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 6-10.5(-12.5) × 2.5-5(-6.5) cm, papery to subleathery, secondary veins 5-8 on each side of midvein, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, margin subentire, denticulate, lobed-serrulate, serrulate, or serrate, apex shortly acuminate to acuminate. Flower peduncle 1.1-2.6 cm (staminate), 1.3-3.9 cm (pistillate). Tepals 8-12, yellow, largest 6-9(-12) × 4-7.5 mm. Staminate flowers: stamens 28-50; staminodes absent. Pistillate flowers: carpels 30-48. Fruit peduncle (2-)2.6-4(-6.1) cm; apocarps red to purple, 5.5-10 × 5.5-7.5 mm. Seeds 1-3 per apocarp, reniform, 3-4 × 4.5-5.5 mm. Fl. Apr-Oct, fr. Oct-Dec. 2n = 28.

Forests, often near rivers; near sea level to 2000 m. Taiwan [Japan, Korea].

This species is a horticultural plant with edible fruit. It is used medicinally.