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Adenophora stricta

Common name:	Sha Shen	Family:	Campanulaceae
Author:	Miq.	Botanical references:	58, 200, 275
Synonyms:	Adenophora confusa (Nannf.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China. Cultivated and naturalised in Japan.
Habitat:	Hillsides and hilly places in China[147].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	adenophora = gland bearing, nectary bearing stricta = upright
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Campanulales. Bellflower family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower in September, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Cultivated Beds, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves Root.

Root - cooked[105, 177]. When boiled in two changes of water, it is said to be excellent eating[179].
Leaves - cooked[105, 177, 179].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antitussive Expectorant.

The root is a stimulant herb that acts mainly on the respiratory system and the heart[238]. It is antitussive and expectorant[147] and is used internally to treat dry coughs, chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis[238].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a light rich slightly alkaline soil that is not too dry, and a warm sunny position[1, 200].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[1], though they are fast-growing and can become invasive when well-sited[238].
The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, they have been known to destroy even mature plants[K].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[200]. The seed can also be sown in spring. Surface sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot in the spring in order to avoid transplanting[133]. We have found that if transplanted when very small seedlings grow away without difficulty[K]. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10° c[133]. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst young.
Basal cuttings in spring[238, K].
Division in spring - very difficult because the plant dislikes root disturbance[1].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[133] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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