Eleutherococcus

''Eleutherococcus'' is a genus of 38 species,p.40, citing Frodin, Govaerts 2003 of thorny shrubs and trees in the family Araliaceae. They are native to eastern Asia, from southeast Siberia and Japan to the Philippines and Vietnam. 18 species come from China, from central to western parts.,p.40, citing Xiang, Lowry 2006

Perhaps the best known in the West is the species '' E. senticosus'' used as herbal medicine,,''Herbal Emissaries'' pages=73- and commonly known by such English names as Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng. In Traditional Chinese medicine, this is administered to increase energy, thus traditionally recognized to have attributes akin to true ginseng (''Panax''). This is also reflected in its formerly used genus name ''Acanthopanax'' meaning "thorny ginseng". The word "Eleutherococcus," from Greek, means "free-berried."

The European Medicines Agency has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of ''Eleutherococcus'' for any clinical condition.

Naming

The Chinese materia medica in question () may designate a number of species., p.41 But the plant now given the common name ''wujia'' in China is specifically '' E. gracilistylus'', and according to one source, the genuine crude drug must come from this species, and ''C. spinosum'' is only a substitute.

The Japanese name borrows directly from the Chinese name, and refers somewhat broadly to several plants in the genus.(日本國語大辞典), 1976
snippet
quote:"果実は熟すと黑くなる,多く生垣に用い,若葉は食用とし、根の皮は五加皮(ごかひ)といい,滋養強壮剤として用いる。" A 10th century herbology text, ''Honzō wamyō'' (), introduced the Chinese ''wujia'' as an herb to be pronounced ''mu-ko-gi'' (), refers specifically to '' E. sieboldianus'' (Japanese name: ''hime-ukogi'').; retrieved from :ja:ウコギ属 version 2009年8月23日 (日) 13:10 R.Lucy (accessed April-2012) (See #Species list below).

The taxonomical nomenclature in the botanical science also has had a sinuous history, so that ''Acanthopanax'' had been used as the proper genus name in China till recent years, while the West adopted ''Eleutherococcus'' as the official name.

Several species are also grown as ornamental garden shrubs. In Japan, they have been planted as hedges. Particularly in Yamagata Prefecture, a ''daimyō'' named Uesugi Yōzan(website) encouraged the planting of the ukogi as fencing around the homes of samurai retainers (''E. sieboldianus'' was planted in the region), and the bitter young buds, leaves and stems have traditionally been picked and eaten as vegetable in the area. However, since the plant is deciduous, it requires sweeping in the fall (high maintenance), and the bare hedges fail to protect the homeowner's privacy.

Fossil record

The four earliest fossil species of ''Eleutherococcus'' are from the Maastrichtian (about 70 Ma) floras of Eisleben and Walbeck, Germany, the synonym ''Acanthopanax'' is used for these species ''†A. friedrichii'', ''†A. gigantocarpus'', ''†A. mansfeldensis'' and ''†A. obliquocostatus''.

Species

*'' Eleutherococcus baoxinensis''
*'' Eleutherococcus brachypus''
*'' Eleutherococcus cissifolius''
*'' Eleutherococcus cuspidatus''
*'' Eleutherococcus divaricatus'', Ja:, aka ''oni-ukogi''. Found in central and southern Japan, Korean peninsula, and Chinese mainland, with many flowers arranged in conical inflorescence
*'' Eleutherococcus eleutheristylus''
*'' Eleutherococcus giraldii''
*'' Eleutherococcus gracilistylus''
*'' Eleutherococcus henryi''
*'' Eleutherococcus higoensis'', Ja:
*'' Eleutherococcus huangshanensis''
*'' Eleutherococcus hypoleucus'', Ja:, growing in limestone soils in Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
*'' Eleutherococcus japonicus'', Ja:, aka ''tsukushi-ukogi'', ''maruba-ukogi''. Grows in hilly terrain, of Kanto, Tokai, Kii Peninsula.
*'' Eleutherococcus lasiogyne''
*'' Eleutherococcus leucorrhizus''
*'' Eleutherococcus nanpingensis''
*'' Eleutherococcus nikaianus'', Ja:, variety found in Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu with yellow-green flowers and blackish-purple fruits.
*'' Eleutherococcus nodiflorus''
*'' Eleutherococcus pilosulus''
*'' Eleutherococcus pseudosetulosus''
*'' Eleutherococcus pubescens''
*'' Eleutherococcus rehderianus''
*'' Eleutherococcus rufinervis''
*'' Eleutherococcus scandens''
* ''Eleutherococcus senticosus'' ( Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim., (エゾウコギ), species found in Hokkaido, with many white flowers in globular clusters;
* '' Eleutherococcus seoulensis''
* '' Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus''
* '' Eleutherococcus setchuensis''
* '' Eleutherococcus setulosus''
* '' Eleutherococcus sieboldianus'' ( Makino) Koidz., Ja:, native to China's mainland.
* '' Eleutherococcus simonii''
* '' Eleutherococcus spinosus'' (L. f.) S.Y. Hu, Ja:, growing widely in Honshu and Shikoku, with white flowers in globular inflorescence
*'' Eleutherococcus stenophyllus''
*'' Eleutherococcus trichodon'', Ja:, found widely in Honshu and Shikoku
*'' Eleutherococcus trifoliatus'' (L. f.) S.Y. Hu
*'' Eleutherococcus verticillatus''
*'' Eleutherococcus wardii''
*'' Eleutherococcus wilsonii''
*'' Eleutherococcus xizangensis''

Formerly under Acanthopanax

* Various ''Eleutherococcus'' spp.
* ''Acanthopanax ricinifolium'' → ''Kalopanax septemlobus'' (), p.545 ''Acanthopanax ricinifolium'', Sieb. & Zacc.,
*'' Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides'', ''koshiabura'' (コシアブラ) → '' Chengiopanax sciadophylloides''

References

External links

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Apiales genera