Botanical Name: Debregeasia edulis
Family: Urticaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales
Tribe: Boehmerieae
Genus: Debregeasia
Synonyms:
*Basionym Urtica frutescens Thunb.
*Urtica frutescens Thunb.
*Homotypic Boehmeria frutescens (Thunb.) Thunb. Villebrunea frutescens (Thunb.) Blume
*Boehmeria frutescens (Thunb.) Thunb.
*Villebrunea frutescens (Thunb.) Blume
Common Names: Yanagi ichigo
Habitat:Debregeasia edulis is native to E. Asia – from eastern Tibet to central and southern Japan. It grows in the upper sub-tropical zone of the Himalayas in Tibet.
Description:
Debregeasia edulis is an evergreen Shrub. It is in leaf all year.Branchlets are dark reddish and slender. Leaves are dark green, alternate, oblong- to linear-lanceolate, with dark reddish petioles.
*Flower colour : pink
*Leaf colour : green
*Fruit/seed colour : red
*Leaf shape : leaves are narrow longitudinal
*Leaf size : between 5 and 10 cm
*Flowering period : april – may
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
Cultivation:
Prefers a fertile well-drained loam with some shelter at the hottest part of the day. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they require greenhouse protection. It might be possible to grow this plant outdoors in the mildest areas of the country, especially if it is given the protection of a warm wall. The fruit is difficult to harvest because the it is tender and falls apart easily, therefore it is not suitable for commercial cultivation. The fruit remains on the plant for several weeks and looks particularly ornamental. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit is required. It prefers shaded, wet places in mountain valleys, at an elevation of 300–2,800 metres (980–9,190 ft) above sea level.
Propagation:
Through seeds – sow late winter to mid-summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 – 2 months at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Softwood cuttings in early summer.
Edible Uses: Fruit is edible, eaten – raw. Pleasantly sweet, they are said to resemble strawberries.The fruits can be used to make wine.
Medicinal Uses: A decoction of the leaves and/or the fruits is sudorific. The leaves are decocted with Pterocarya spp and used in the treatment of itch.
Other Uses: Not Known
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debregeasia
https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Debregeasia+edulis
