Asarum asperum var. asperum ("Miyakoaoi")

Japanese name: ミヤコアオイ （都葵）
Scientific name: Asarum asperum var. asperum

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial growing in deciduous forests in hills to low mountains.
The stem is short and creeps along the ground.
The leaves have long purplish-brown stalks and are ovate-orbicular to ovate-elliptic, 6–10 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, rather thin, with a deeply heart-shaped base that often projects to give a halberd shape.
The upper surface of the leaf has short hairs and is usually not glossy, with cloud-like to streaky pale green to white patterns; the underside is hairless.
The flowers are pale purplish brown and bloom sideways at ground level.
The flowers are about 2 cm across and have no petals; the upper part of the calyx tube splits into 3 petal-like lobes.
The calyx tube is 0.6–0.8 cm long and about 0.8–1 cm in diameter, with the tip of the tube markedly constricted, so it looks trapezoidal from the side.
The calyx lobes are ovate-triangular and spread obliquely.
Inside the calyx tube there are 15 vertical folds and 2–3 horizontal folds, forming a lattice.
There are 12 stamens, and 6 styles that are columnar.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Sow seeds immediately after collecting them.
It prefers shade and soil that is well drained and retains moisture.
It dislikes dryness, so water thoroughly when the soil surface begins to dry.
In spring and autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
Pests and diseases include southern blight, soft rot, anthracnose, viral disease, slugs and armyworms.

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