Gastrodia tuber, Heaven hemp
Gastrodia elata
Family: Orchidaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrubby orchid. It grows 60-100 cm high and spreads 30 cm wide. The roots are like tubers and 30-150 cm long. They are yellow-brown. The leaves are like small tear drops. The flowers are greenish-yellow or pale red. The fruit are round. The seeds are small.
It is also used in medicine. There are about 20 Gastrodia species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows attached to wood. It grows in high latitudes or altitudes in China. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Taiwan, Tibet
How it is used for food
The potato like rhizomes are boiled in water for tea or cooked with chicken for soup. They are also used in drinks and bread.
Edible parts
Root, rhizome, bulb
How it is grown
It is cultivated on oak, willow or birch logs. These are inoculated with the fungus then covered with compost from the forest.
Its other names
Local names
Gastrodia, Taimavq, Tianma, Tien ma, U-nin-te-p