Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke

A twining woody climber. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 3-4 m long. The stems are woody near the base. It loses its leaves during the year. It has large tuberous rhizomes. The stems are red when young. The leaves are light green and oval. The leaves are alternate and have a leaf stalk. The blade is oval and 5-7 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It tapers to a point at the end. The flowers are small and white or pink. They are in slender panicles or groups at the ends of branches. These can be 20-24 cm long. The fruit have 3 wings. It is a dry black 3 sided seed.

Mountain slopes, rock crevices, thickets in valleys; at elevations from 200-3,000 metres in China. Woods, north to latitude 42° 30' north. Along the banks of streams and in valley shrub thickets.

The roots are washed, sliced, soaked overnight and boiled in changes of water to remove the bitter principle then washed, steamed, re-boiled and eaten. They are used in tonic soups, porridges and wines. The large underground rhizome is used as a food and medicine. The flowers are also eaten.

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings or by division of the tuber.