Edible Plants of the World

Three Leaf Akebia

Plants grow naturally in rocky places in woods and thickets to 1800 metres in China, Japan and Korea. It needs well drained moist soil. It can grow in acid or alkaline soils. Dormant plants can withstand heavy frosts but plants with shoots are damaged. It can stand temperatures down to -10°C. In mild climates plants do not lose their leaves. It can grow in shade but does better in the sun. It grows in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Also known as:

Bayuegua, Bayuezha, Mitsuba-akebi

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Three Leaf Akebia grow?

Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Burkina Faso, China, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, West Africa

Notes: There are about 4-5 Akebia species.

Status: Fruit are sold in markets in Japan.

Growing Three Leaf Akebia

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. If possible use fresh seed or for stored seed give it one months cold treatment. Seed should be sown on the surface of the soil. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°C. Plants do not transplant easily. Plants do not transplant easily. Plants do well climbing on deciduous trees. Hand pollination helps fruit bearing. As plants are probably self sterile 2 plants from different sources should be grown together. Plants can be grown from cuttings of the vine or root. Plants can also be grown by layering.

Edible Uses: The ripe fruit is eaten raw. It can also be used for drinks. The dried young leaves are used as a herbal tea.

Production: Plants are fast growing. In China plants flower in April and May and fruit in June to September.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit - - - - - -
Leaves - tea - - - - - -

References

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Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 63

Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 39:310. 1925

Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 92

Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 109

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 138

Flowerdew, B., 2000, Complete Fruit Book. Kyle Cathie Ltd., London. p 188

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 31 (As Akebia lobata)

Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 391 (var. australis)

John, L., & Stevenson, V., 1979, The Complete Book of Fruit. Angus & Robertson p 46 (As Akebia lobata)

Kang, Y., et al, 2012, Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; 9:26

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Kang, Y., et al, 2014, Wild food plants used by the Tibetans of Gongba Valley (Zouqu country, Gansu, China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 10:20

Lamberton, K (Ed.), 2004, The Australian gardening encyclodepia. Murdoch Books, NSW Australia. p 154 (As Akebia trifoliata)

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Luo, B., et al, 2019, Wild edible plants collected by Hani from terraced rice paddy agroecosystem in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 15:56

Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 54, 56

Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 62

Wang, J. et al, 2013, A Study on the Utilization of Wild Plants for Food in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Plant Diversity and Resources. 35(4): 416-471