Rohdea japonica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asparagaceae
Subfamilia: Nolinoideae
Tribus: Convallarieae
Genus: Rohdea
Species: Rohdea japonica
Name

Rohdea japonica (Thunb.) Roth
Synonyms

Orontium japonicum Thunb.
Orontium liliifolium Salisb.
Rohdea esquirolii H.Léveillé
Rohdea japonica var. latifolia Hatusima
Rohdea sinensis H.Léveillé

References

Novae Plantarum Species praesertim Indiae Orientalis 197. 1821
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Rohdea japonica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Rohdea japonica is a species of plant native to Japan, China and Korea.[2][3][4][5] Common names include Nippon lily, sacred lily, and Japanese sacred lily.

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, with fibrous roots. The leaves are evergreen, broad lanceolate, 15–50 cm long and 2.5–7 cm broad, with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in a short, stout, dense spike 3–4 cm long, each flower pale yellowish, 4–5 mm long. The fruit is a red berry 8 mm diameter, produced in a tight cluster of several together.
Cultivation and uses
Traditional arrangement of Kinka Ikenobō school using omoto (rohdea japonica)

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. In Chinese it is called wan nian qing (simplified: 万年青; traditional: 萬年青; lit. "evergreen"), and for this reason has been used symbolically in visual culture (e.g. on Mao badges). In Japanese it is called omoto.

The plant is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, though it is generally regarded as inedible and possibly toxic.
References

Curtis's botanical magazine vol. 23 tabl. 898, http://www.botanicus.org/page/482623), John Sims (1749-1831)
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
Tanaka, N. (2010). A taxonomic revision of the genus Rohdea (Asparagaceae). Makinoa , n.s., 9: 1-54.
Ohwi, J. (1984). Flora of Japan (in English): 1-1067. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C..
Lee, W.T. (1996). Lineamenta Florae Koreae: 1-1688. Soul T'ukpyolsi: Ak'ademi Sojok.