Reynoutria multiflora

Reynoutria multiflora

  • Reynoutria multiflora
  • Reynoutria multiflora
  • Flower name
    Reynoutria multiflora
  • Scientific name
    Reynoutria multiflora
  • Alias蔓蕺草, カシュウ, 何首烏
  • Place of originChina
  • Place of floweringFields and footpaths, Seashore, Low mountains
  • Flowering seasonSeptember, October

What is Reynoutria multiflora

Reynoutria multiflora or Chinese Knotweed (scientific name: Reynoutria multiflora) is a native of China and a naturalized perennial vine wildflower belonging to the family Polygonaceae and the genus Reynoutria. In Japan, it is found scattered along roadsides and in vacant lots from Honshu to Okinawa.
The dried tuberous root is used to make the crude drug "kashu" , and the vine is used to make the Chinese herbal remedy for insomnia "yakōtō". Care should be taken to avoid overconsumption of either as it can lead to toxic-induced hepatitis.
The genus name "Polygonum" is a compound of the Latin words "polys" (many) and "gonu" (joint), meaning "many joints," and the species name "multiflora" is a compound of the Latin words "multi" (many) and "flora" (flower), meaning "many-flowered.

Common name: Reynoutria multiflora, scientific name: Reynoutria multiflora, also known as Chinese Knotweed, "kashu (crow)", Plant of original: Chinese, habitat: Honshu to Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa, environment: fields, roadsides, vacant land, living forms: Vine: 100-300 cm; leaf color: dark green; leaf texture: leaf stalk: long; leaf length: 3-7 cm; leaf width: 1-2 cm; leaf shape: arrowhead to heart-shaped; leaf margin: entire; inflorescence: alternate, dioecious; inflorescence shape: raceme to conical; inflorescence length: 10-20 cm; petals (petal-like sepals): none Inflorescence form: raceme to conical inflorescence; inflorescence length: 10-20 cm; petals (sepals that look like petals): none; sepals: 5; flowering season: August to October; sepal color: white to greenish white; flower diameter: 0.7 cm; number of stamens: 8; number of pistils: 1; flower column: 3; fruit shape: thin; fruit length: 0.3 cm; fruit color: black; reproduction method: seeds or underground stems; uses: tuberous root is used as a tonic herbal drug "Kashu Wu" and the vine as a tonic for insomnia.


  • Order
    Caryophyllales
  • Family
    Polygonaceae
  • Genus
    Reynoutria
  • Species
    R. multiflora
  • Type of flower
    Radial symmetrical flower
  • Array of flower
    Cone / Compound inflorescence
  • Petal shape
    without
  • Leaf type
    Arrowhead shape
  • Edge of the leaf
    Entire
  • Life typenaturalized perennial vine wildflower
  • Flower colorsWhite
  • Colors of the leavesGreen
  • Fruit color
  • Height100.0 ~ 300.0 cm
  • Diameter of flower0.3 ~ 0.6 cm

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