Japanese name: イブキトラノオ Scientific name:Bistorta officinalis subsp. japonica
[Overview]
A perennial 50–120 cm tall, found in sunny alpine meadows and similar places.
It has a thick, short rhizome.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are lanceolate, 20–25 cm long and 4–4.5 cm wide, entire, with long petioles.
The 5–8 stem leaves are lanceolate to thread-like.
A pseudoraceme 3–8 cm long at the stem tip bears 3–5 flowers at each node.
The white to pale pink calyx is conspicuous and petal-like.
The fruit is an achene enclosed in the calyx, ovate-round with 3 ridges.
[Uses]
The rhizome is used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained place, but strong direct sunlight in summer can weaken it, so a spot with good air circulation and partial shade in summer, such as under deciduous trees, is suitable.
Protect it from cold wind and frost in winter.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
