Chloranthus sessilifolius

Japanese name: クロランツス セッシリフォリウス
Scientific name: Chloranthus sessilifolius

[Overview]
A perennial found in moist places in deciduous forests in its native range.
The stem rises upright from a short creeping underground rhizome and grows 35–70 cm tall.
The stem is tinged with purple.
The leaves are borne in two decussate-opposite pairs on the upper part of the stem, but because the internodes are short, they look as if they were in whorls of four.
The leaves are simple, elliptic, 12–20 cm long and 7–12 cm wide.
The leaf surface is glossy, and both sides are hairless.
The leaves are tinged reddish purple overall, or only the veins are tinged red.
The leaf margins are serrated.
Two to four drooping spikes at the stem tip bear many flowers densely.
The flowers have no petals, with three white stamens and one pistil.

[Uses]
It is used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Seed loses germination rate when dried, so sow it immediately after harvest.
It prefers humus-rich soil that is well drained and moisture-retentive, in slightly moist, bright shade.
Grow it where it receives plenty of sun from winter through the flowering period, and bright shade after that.
Direct sunlight in summer causes leaf scorch, so shading is necessary.
It dislikes dryness, so take care not to let it run out of water; water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Do not let it dry out completely even in winter, when the aboveground parts have died back.
Apply bone meal and oil cake once each in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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