Cucurbitaceae FAMILY

Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

5/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a very variable, annual to perennial climbing plant, sending out stems that scramble over the ground and into the surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of tendrils. A very important tonic herb in Chinese Traditional Medicine, the plant also produces edible young shoots, a tea and a cosmetic. It is sometimes grown in gardens for its edible and medicinal uses.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea

HabitatThickets in open forests in lowland all over Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. , 275 Title Flora of Japan Publication Author Website http://www.foj.info Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora - an excellent resource. ]. Forest, thickets or road sides on mountain slopes at elevations of 300 - 3200 metres in China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].