Product details & mandatory information
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) herb, cut 100 g in detail
Description of Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) herb, cut
Appearance
Jiaogulan is a fast-growing, perennial shrub with long, thin climbing shoots. This plant can withstand temperatures from -15 °C to 41.5 °C. In winter, it survives underground with tuberous roots and sprouts again in spring. The growth height varies greatly depending on the climate, soil conditions, nutrients and water supply. In Central Europe, it can grow to a height of three to five metres, depending on the location and climate. Thanks to its tendrils, it can cling well to climbing aids and overgrow them. The green leaves consist of compound leaf segments with five or seven parts. In July and August, greenish-white, star-shaped flowers appear in panicles. The fruits are round, dark green to black and reach a size of up to 8 millimetres.
Botany & history
Jiaogulan, also known as the "herb of immortality" (other names: women's ginseng, 5-leaf ginseng), belongs to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). It was first described in a book in 1406 by Zhu Xiao during the Ming Dynasty. In 1784, the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg published the first western description of this plant under the name Vitis pentaphylla. Carl Ludwig Blume, a Dutch-German botanist, moved the jiaogulan to a different genus in 1825 and named it Gynostemma simplicifolium. It was not until 1902 that the Japanese botanist Makino Tomitaro gave the plant its current name Gynostemma pentaphyllum.
Origin
The herb of immortality is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India and the entire Malay region. However, jiaogulan originally comes from China, more precisely from Guizhou province in the south of the country. This plant prefers a warm and humid climate. It can be found in dense mountain forests, mountain valleys, roadsides, along riverbanks and in shady meadows. It can also be found at altitudes of up to 3200 metres above sea level.
Use: For decorating or smoking
Storage instructions: Store the product away from light, in a dry place and out of the reach of small children.
Ideally suited for
- Health-conscious people
- Natural alternatives
Advantages
- Pure jiaogulan plant, also known as the "herb of immortality"
- Freshly harvested from the field
- Multi-purpose use for decoration or incense
