Asian knotweed Fallopia japonica

Features

Perennial.

Species	Perrenial
Living space	Cultivated areas, Lake, Pond, River edge, Rivers, Streams, Swamp, Wet site
Size	up to 3 m

Description

Homeland is Japan. It is a two to three meter tall shrub that grows from underground parts each growing season. In winter, the above-ground parts die off, and the underground roots, which are very overgrown and can reach several meters away from the mother plant, overwinter. It is characterized by a cranked articulated hollow stem resembling a bamboo stem. When mowing from the rhizomes, stems up to a few decimetres high, which usually do not bloom and are not hollow, grow in different places. Above the knees grow whole edges, broadly ovate leaves, 5 to 15 long, rarely 20 cm and up to 10 cm wide. They have a truncated bottom and a sharply tapered top and are mounted alternately on the stem. Above the leaves, the stem is surrounded by a tubular formation, a boot, reshaped stalks. The flowers are unisexual, with stunted but noticeable designs of organs of the opposite sex. The petals are five, the outer three contacting the broad edges and surrounding the developing fruit, a triangular nut that is ripe black in color. The young stems of the plant are edible and in the homeland the plants are used in human nutrition. The shoots are sour and their taste is similar to the taste of rhubarb. The plant is also used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat fungal diseases, skin inflammations and cardiovascular diseases. It is common throughout Slovenia, most often especially along rivers and streams.