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Archiver > CORNISH > 1998-07 > 0900329662


From: "Patrick And Katrina Lawson" <>
Subject: Re: Japanese Knot Weed
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 07:34:22 -0400


Hi all,

I took John's advice and, since I was sitting at the computer, I used
Encarta to look up kudzu. Here's what it said:

"Kudzu, common name of a vine native to China and Japan. The plant is a
coarse-growing perennial with large trifoliate leaves having coarsely lobed
leaflets. The flowers, borne on long racemes, are large and purple. The
fruit is a flat, papery pod covered with a tawny down. Kudzu plants are
grown from root cuttings. They produce long, lateral runners that generate
roots at intervals.
Kudzu produces edible roots, and the stems yield a fiber called ko-hemp.
Since the introduction of kudzu into the United States in 1876, it has
become important as a source of hay and forage and for its use in
controlling soil erosion. Kudzu is well adapted to the southern United
States; in northern regions, other legumes, such as clover and alfalfa, grow
more plentifully. As a hay plant, the viny nature of kudzu makes it
difficult to harvest, but as pasturage, kudzu is valuable for its high
protein and vitamin A and D content. Because of the binding capacity of its
long runners, kudzu is valuable in reducing soil erosion. In some places,
however, it has spread into forest borders, drainage ditches, and other
places, and many farmers and foresters consider it a weed.
Scientific classification: Kudzu belongs to the subfamily Papilionoideae,
family Leguminosae. It is classified as Pueraria lobata.

"Kudzu," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1996 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved."

So there you have it. <g>

Katrina
~~~~~~~~
Researching:
N O R T H E Y and M c G O R M A N in the UK
C O L E M A N in Ohio, US
R O U N S E F E L L anywhere, any time!

Rounsefell One-Name Study at:
http://members.xoom.com/4Grant/

-----Original Message-----
From: John Coles <>
To: <>
Date: Sunday, 12 July 1998 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: Japanese Knot Weed

>Hi John,
>
>Japanese Knotweed is about 2 metres tall, with large (hand sized)
>heart shaped leaves on pinkish / orangish hollow stems.
>
>It has sprays of 'frothy' white flowers that tend to hang in fronds.
>
>It grows like crazy, and has extensive underground root systems
>which make it very difficult to eradicate, and the lush valleys of West
>Cornwall are full of the stuff, which chokes out everything else.
>
>We can't find Kudzhu in any of our extensive collection of reference
>books. But the Latin name of the Japanese Knotweed is
>REYNOUTRIA JAPONICA or
>POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM
>
>There is also a Giant Knotweed, rarer, and up to 3 metres tall.
>RAYNOUTRIA SACHALINENSIS
>
>so if anyone can find the Kudzhu in their own books, check
>the latin (botanical) name which should be universal ....
>but isn't as you can see from my example above 8-)
>
>John.
>
>----------
>> Please describe this offensive weed. It may be the dreaded kudzhu!
>>
>> John Jardine
>>
>>
>>
>
>______________________________

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