Akane
Rubia argyi

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A climber or vine. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 2 m or more long and 4 angled. The leaves are mostly in rings of four. The leaves are broadly oval to heart shaped. They are 2-5 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are in groups. The fruit are black.

There are about 60 Rubia species. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in thickets and hedges. In China it grows between 300-3,400 m above sea level. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

In China plants flower July to October and fruit August to November.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Galium argyi H Lev. & Vaniot; Rubia akane Nakai; Rubia akane var. erecta Masam.; Rubia chekinangensis Deb; Rubia nankotaizana Masam.;