Chloranthus serratus ("Futarishizuka")

Japanese name: フタリシズカ （二人静）
Scientific name: Chloranthus serratus

[Overview]
A perennial that grows in colonies in shady, somewhat moist places in deciduous forests.
The stem rises erect from a short creeping underground rhizome and grows 30–60 cm tall.
The stem is green.
The leaves are simple and opposite at the 2–3 nodes in the upper part of the stem, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 5–17 cm long and 2–8 cm wide.
The leaves are not glossy, both sides are hairless, and the margin has sharply pointed teeth.
Usually two spike-like inflorescences 2–6 cm long are produced at the stem tip, bearing many densely packed flowers.
The flowers have no petals, with 3 white stamens and 1 pistil.
The fruit is spherical to ovoid, 3 mm long, and ripens while remaining green.
The seeds have appendages that ants like.

[Uses]
The stems, leaves and roots are used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Seeds germinate poorly once dried, so sow them immediately after harvesting.
It prefers humus-rich soil that is well drained and retains water well, and bright shade that is somewhat moist.
Keep it in a place that is sunny from winter through the flowering season and becomes bright shade after that.
Direct sunlight in summer causes leaf scorch, so shading is necessary.
When planted in the ground, a moist place under deciduous trees is good.
It dislikes dryness, so watch for water shortage; keep potted plants moist to some degree at all times, and water plants in the garden too if they wilt.
Do not let it dry out completely even in winter, when the aboveground parts have died back.
Apply bone meal and oilcake once each in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name was given because, unlike Hitori-shizuka, it usually produces two flower spikes.

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