Climbing knotweed, Flowery knotweed, Chinese cornbind
Reynoutria multiflora

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A twining woody climber. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 3-4 m long. The stems are woody near the base. It loses its leaves during the year. It has large tuberous rhizomes. The stems are red when young. The leaves are light green and oval. The leaves are alternate and have a leaf stalk. The blade is oval and 5-7 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It tapers to a point at the end. The flowers are small and white or pink. They are in slender panicles or groups at the ends of branches. These can be 20-24 cm long. The fruit have 3 wings. It is a dry black 3 sided seed.

It is used in medicine. There are about 7 Fallopia species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China (country/location of origin), India, Indochina, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, Malaysia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The roots are washed, sliced, soaked overnight and boiled in changes of water to remove the bitter principle then washed, steamed, re-boiled and eaten. They are used in tonic soups, porridges and wines. The large underground rhizome is used as a food and medicine. The flowers are also eaten.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, rhizome, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings or by division of the tuber.

Tubers are collected from plants that are 3-4 years old.

Its other names

Local names

Black hair ho, Fo-ti, Hasuo, Hathuo do, He Shou Wu, Ho shou wu, Night shrivel vine, Ye jiao teng

Synonyms

Fagopyrum mutliflorum (Thunb.) Grint.; Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldon; Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.; and several others