''Akebia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of five species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...

, within the family

Lardizabalaceae Lardizabalaceae is a family of flowering plants. The family has been universally recognized by taxonomists, including the APG II system (2003; unchanged from the APG system of 1998), which places it in the order Ranunculales, in the clade eudic ...

. The scientific name, ''akebia'', is a Latinization of the

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

name for species Akebia quinata: .

Species

There are five species:

Hybrids

* ''Akebia'' ×''pentaphylla'' (Makino) Makino (''A. quinata'' × ''A. trifoliata'')

Fruit

''Akebia quinata'' and ''Akebia trifoliata'' both bear edible fruit, containing a sweet white flesh. Flavor varies greatly in akebias, even within the same species, with some individuals displaying a complex flavor profile resembling a mixture of

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", disting ...

passionfruit ''Passiflora edulis,'' commonly known as passion fruit, is a vine species of passion flower native to southern Brazil through Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas for its sweet, seedy ...

and

lychee Lychee (US: ; UK: ; ''Litchi chinensis''; ) is a Monotypic taxon, monotypic taxon and the sole member in the genus ''Litchi'' in the Sapindus, soapberry family, ''Sapindaceae''. It is a tropical tree native to Southeast and Southwest China (t ...

, with others being mild, or even insipid.

''Akebia'' in Japan

''Akebia'' is often mentioned in

Japanese literature Japanese literature throughout most of its history has been influenced by cultural contact with neighboring Asian literatures, most notably China and its literature. Early texts were often written in pure Classical Chinese or , a Chinese-Japanes ...

, where it is evocative of pastoral settings.Davidson, Alan, and Tom Jaine. ''The Oxford companion to food''. Oxford University Press, USA, 2006. 805. Print. Retrieved Aug. 09, 2010, fro

/ref> Although the ''akebi'' commonly refers to the five-leafed species, the three-leafed species is used in much the same way for novelty food, medicine, and for vine material. While only a minor food eaten while foraging in the past, akebia is considered a specialty crop today, only available when in season. The pods contain a white, semi-translucent gelatinous pulp that is mildly sweet and full of seeds. The taste is described as sweet but rather "insipid". Some people recollect in idyllic terms how they foraged for it in the hills as children. The purple-colored, slightly bitter rind has been used as a vegetable in

Yamagata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,079,950 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km² (3,600 sq mi). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to the nor ...

, photograph shows trifoliate variety (twig, fresh purple plant, and prepared dish) or in those northern areas, where the typical recipe calls for stuffing the rind with minced chicken (or pork) flavored with

miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning. It is a thick paste produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and ''kōji'' (the fungus '' Aspergillus oryzae'') and sometimes rice, barley, seaweed, or other ingredients. It is used for sauces and ...

. Minor quantities of akebia are shipped to the urban market as a novelty vegetable. In addition to consuming the fruit, akebia leaves are also made into a tea infusion. Outside of food and drinks, akebia vines are used for basket-weaving crafts. An old source lists

Minakuchi, Shiga was a town located in Kōka District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the town had an estimated population of 38,864 and a density of 563.82 persons per km². The total area was 68.93 km². On October 1, 2004, Minakuchi, along with the ...

and Tsugaru (now

Aomori Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the eas ...

) as localities that produced baskets from the vines of trifoliate variety.

Gallery

Image:AkebiaTrifoliata fruit.JPG, Ripe ''Akebia trifoliata'' fruit Image:Akebia quinata02.jpg, ''Akebia quinata'' leaves and flowers Image:Akebia quinata03.JPG, Female flowers of ''Akebia quinata'' (large) and male (small) Image:Akebia quinata031.jpg, Early fruit of ''Akebia quinata'' Image:Akebia quinata07.jpg, ''Akebia quinata'' flower Image:結実直後のアケビ.jpg, Early fruit of ''Akebia quinata''

References

External links

Akebia: Three Varieties
including photographs by Paghat's Garden

including photographs by Paghat's Garden {{Taxonbar, from=Q417068 Lardizabalaceae Ranunculales genera Japanese vegetables Flora of China Flora of Eastern Asia Medicinal plants of Asia