Elatostema involucratum

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20-60 cm tall. The leaves are simple. It does not have stinging hairs. The leaves are obliquely oblong. They are 5-16 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. Male flowers are single and female flowers in groups of 30.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows amongst rocks in valleys between 200-3,200 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea

How it is used for food

The young stem and leaves are used as a potherb.

Edible parts

Shoots, stem, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Luo bu a bo

Synonyms

Elatostema bijiangense W. T. Wang; Elatostema japonicum var. involucratum (Franch. & Sav.) Makino; Elatostema japonicum var. majus (Maxim.) H. Nakai & H. Ohashi; Elatostema umbellatum var. majus Maxim.;