Cryptotaenia canadensis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC.

Family: Umbelliferae

Synonyms

• Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk.

Vernacular names

• Japanese honewort (En)
• Indonesia: mitsuba, salderi Jepang.

Distribution

Native to Japan, China and north-eastern America. Introduced into South-East Asia and cultivated occasionally.

Uses

The aromatic leaves are eaten, raw or cooked. They are used for flavouring soups and other dishes in the same way as celery leaves.

Observations

• Perennial, rhizomatous, erect herb, 20-125 cm tall.
• Leaves trifoliolate, the lowest ones largest with very long petioles; leaflets sessile, broadly ovate, obovate or oblique rhomboid, 2-12 cm × 1.5-8 cm, sharply biserrate-dentate.

Easy to cultivate, also at low altitudes. Propagation by rhizome cuttings or by seed. The plant demands a humus-rich soil. Harvesting starts when plants are 20-25 cm tall.

Selected sources

7, 43, 66, 91.