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Botanical Name : Broussonetia kazinoki
Family : Moraceae
Genus : Broussonetia
Synonyms : Broussonetia kaempferi – non Siebold.&Zucc.,Broussonetia monoica – Hance.,Broussonetia sieboldii – Blume.
Common names:
•chu (Source: F ChinaEng ) – Transcribed Chinese
•kozo (Source: F JapanOhwi ) – Japanese R?maji
.
Habitat: E. Asia – C. and S. Japan, Korea. Forest margins, low mountains and near houses.
Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade
Description:
A decidious Tree growing to 4.5m.
It is hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen in September. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant)The plant is not self-fertile.
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The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Cultivation
Easily cultivated in a warm sunny position in any soil of reasonable quality, thriving on poor sandy or gravelly soils. Tolerates atmospheric pollution. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun. Often cultivated in Japan for the fibre in its bark, the tree is coppiced annually for this purpose. Some plants are monoecious whilst others are dioecious. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.
Propagation
Seed – no pre-treatment is required. Sown in the autumn or spring in a greenhouse, germination usually takes place within 1 – 3 months at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 8 – 12cm long with a heel, July/August in a frame. High percentage. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season’s growth, November in a frame. Root cuttings in winter. Layering in spring
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers; Fruit; Leaves.
Fruit – raw. A sweet taste. The fruit comprises a ball about 1cm in diameter with small edible fruits protruding – there is not much edible flesh but it has a lovely flavour. Prolonged ingestion of the fruit is said to weaken the bones. Leaves – cooked and used as a vegetable. Flowers. No more details.
Medicinal Uses
Tonic.
The fruit is used as a tonic to increase vision and sexual potency.
Other Uses
Fibre.
A fibre from the bark is used in making paper, cloth, rope etc. It is inferior to B. papyrifera.
Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Broussonetia+kazinoki
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Broussonetia_kazinoki_x_Broussonetia_papyrifera
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Broussonetia_kazinoki
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?312597
