Akebia quinata

Japanese name: アケビ （通草）
Scientific name: Akebia quinata

[Overview]
A deciduous woody climber that climbs by twining around other plants.
The leaves are alternate and palmately compound with 5 leaflets; the petiole is 3–10 cm.
The leaflets are oblong to oblong-obovate, 3–6 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, slightly notched at the tip, with entire margins.
The leaflet stalks are 1–3 cm.
Racemose or corymbose inflorescences hang down from the new leaves and scale axils of short shoots, bearing several male flowers at the tip and 1–2 female flowers at the base.
The flowers have no petals.
The male flowers are 10–16 mm across and pale purple, with 3 sepals 7–8 mm long; the flower stalk is 1–2 cm.
The female flowers are 25–30 mm across and reddish purple, with 3 sepals 15–20 mm long; the flower stalk is 4–5 cm.
The fruit is a berry, elliptic, 5–10 cm long and 3–4 cm across and tinged with purple; when ripe it splits open to reveal white flesh inside.

[Uses]
The flesh is sweet and can be eaten raw.
The remaining fleshy rind is bitter and can be eaten cooked, for example stuffed with meat.
The young shoots are also used as wild vegetables.
Oil can be extracted from the seeds.
The vines are used for crafts such as woven baskets.
The vines are used as a crude drug.

[Cultivation]
As long as the site is well drained, retains water well and is sunny, it is not very particular about soil.
Propagate by grafting or from seed.
Powdery mildew and aphids are seen as pests and diseases.

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