Ezo Ryukinka(Caltha palustris var. nipponica, ヤチブキ)
- Wildflower of early summer in Hokkaido, Japan.
Ezo spruce (Caltha palustris var. nipponica) is a perennial herb of the buttercup family and a variety of the ryukinka (Rhus succedanea). It is a perennial herb found in northern Honshu, Hokkaido, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Island, and Ussuri. It is one of the few edible plants in the Ranunculaceae family, with many poisonous plants.
It grows in valleys, and its round leaves resemble butterbur, so it is also commonly called "yatibuki" (butterbur).
The leaves stems, and flowers are also edible, and it is a typical early summer wild plant in Hokkaido. The best time to gather them is in June in Hokkaido, and as much as possible, select those that grow in streams of water, and the stems and leaves of young plants before they bloom are tasty. It tastes bitter, so it is boiled well, soaked in water, and eaten cooked or with vinegared miso paste. It can also be used as tempura, stir-fried, or a miso soup seed.
The leaves stems, and flowers are also edible, and it is a typical early summer wild plant in Hokkaido. The best time to gather them is in June in Hokkaido, and as much as possible, select those that grow in streams of water, and the stems and leaves of young plants before they bloom are tasty. It tastes bitter, so it is boiled well, soaked in water, and eaten cooked or with vinegared miso paste. It can also be used as tempura, stir-fried, or a miso soup seed.
Many species of buttercup plants are poisonous, but the ryukinka is one of the few edible species, especially the Ezo ryukinka that grows in clusters in Hokkaido. In "Toxic Plants of Japan," supervised by Motokichi Satake, it is written that "the larger ones cause diarrhea and other symptoms of poisoning," and caution is required when using them as food.
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