Additional notes (click to expand)
Other use
It has a bergamot flavour. Used as an ancient medicinal plant in China (vermifuge (earliest recorded), antimalarial, insect-bites, etc.).
Mabberly, D.J., 2006, The Plant-Book, 5 ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge p.923
The young spring shoots are first picked and then later in the year the slightly scented flower buds are eaten.The flower buds are pickled and used as a spice. The buds are used in mizo soup and tempura.
Toxicity
Zingiber officinale contains methyleugenol, an alkenylbenzene. It is carcinogenic and genotoxic in mice. No data on Z.mioga.
van den Berg, S.J.P.L., Restani, et al., P.. (2011). Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Compounds in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment. Food and Nutrition Science 2: 989-1010.
link
Geographical distribution
- Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Japan
Zingiber mioga (Thunb.) Roscoe
Family: ZINGIBERACEAEGenus: Zingiber
Species: mioga (Thunb.) Roscoe
Common names: Japanese Ginger; Mioga Ginger
Distribution summary: Japan
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Moist woodland and riverbanks
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Far East (L)
Flowering months: June
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use
