Tropical kudzu

Pueraria pseudohirsuta

Physical Characteristics

Pueraria pseudohirsuta is a CLIMBER. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Korea.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Root[105, 177]. Rich in starch[105, 177]. The starch in the root can be extracted and used as a crispy coating in deep fried foods, or for thickening soups etc[174, 183]. It can also be made into noodles, or like agar or gelatine is used as a gelling agent for salads[183].

Medicinal Uses

Antispasmodic Antivinous Astringent Depurative Diaphoretic Dysentery Febrifuge The flowers are antivinous[176]. They are used in the treatment of thirst, high fever, abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting due to alcoholic intoxication[176]. The root is antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic and febrifuge[147, 176]. It is used to relieve hunger[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of exposure-caused colds and fevers, incomplete measles rash breakout, diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis[147, 176]. The root contains puerarin. This increases the blood flow to the coronary artery and protects against acute myocardial ischaemia caused by the injection of pituitrin[176].

Known Hazards

None known