Family: Amaranthaceae
Author: Blume
Bibliography: Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 545 (1826)
Year: 1826
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Achyranthes
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to NW. Pacific
Description
Nui xi, scientifically known as Achyranthes bidentata, is a significant plant species belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. This plant was extensively documented by Blume in the early 19th century, with its first comprehensive description appearing in the “Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indië” in 1826.
Achyranthes bidentata thrives naturally in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and extends its presence to the Northwestern Pacific areas. This adaptability to diverse climates has contributed to its widespread distribution and the various uses attributed to it within traditional practices across its native range.
As a member of the Amaranthaceae family, Nui xi is related to a vast group of flowering plants known for their hardiness and economic significance. Among its notable characteristics, Achyranthes bidentata is often recognized for its upright growth habit and distinctive oval leaves, which are complemented by its unique flowering pattern.
Historically, Nui xi has been utilized in various cultural and medicinal contexts. Traditional medicine systems in Asia, particularly in China and India, have long revered the plant for its purported health benefits. It has been used to address a myriad of ailments, including those related to blood circulation and joint health, underscoring its value in herbal medicine.
The plant’s resilient nature and therapeutic potential have ensured its continued relevance and study, affirming Achyranthes bidentata as an important species both ecologically and within the sphere of traditional knowledge.
Common Names
Swe: oxknä
Eng: pig’s knee
En: Nui Xi, Ox Knee, Pig’s knee
Zh: Niu xi, 牛膝
Fi: Kiinantähkähäntä
Ko: 쇠무릎
Ml: പെരുംകടലാടി
Sv: Oxknä
Zh-tw: 牛膝
Th: ห่วยหงู่ฉิก
Zh-hant: 牛膝
Vi: Ngưu tất
Synonyms
- Achyranthes rotundifolia ((Ohwi) M.Suzuki)
- Achyranthes mollicula (Nakai)
- Achyranthes bidentata var. villosa (J.L.Lin)
- Achyranthes fauriei var. tomentosa (Honda)
- Achyranthes fauriei f. rotundifolia (Ohwi)
- Achyranthes ogatai (Yamam.)
- Achyranthes bidentata var. tomentosa ((Honda) H.Hara)
- Achyranthes bidentata var. hachijoensis ((Honda) H.Hara)
- Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica (Miq.)
- Achyranthes longifolia f. rubra (F.C.Ho)
- Achyranthes japonica ((Miq.) Nakai)
- Achyranthes bidentata f. rubra (F.C.Ho)
- Achyranthes fauriei (H.Lév. & Vaniot)
- Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis (Honda)
- Achyranthes japonica var. katsuudakemontana (Tawada)
- Centrostachys bidentata ((Blume) Standl.)
- Centrostachys fruticosa ((Lam.) Standl.)
- Achyranthes hispida (Moq.)
- Achyranthes chinensis (Osbeck)
- Achyranthes fauriei var. japonica ((Miq.) Hiyama)
- Achyranthes ryukyuensis (Tawada)
- Achyranthes aspera var. fruticosa ((Lam.) Boerl.)
- Achyranthes bidentata var. longifolia (Makino)
- Achyranthes wightiana (Wall.)
- Centrostachys moquinii (Standl.)
- Achyranthes longifolia ((Makino) Makino)
Distribution
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Borneo (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Caroline Is. (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Hainan (native)
- India (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Korea (native)
- Laos (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Marianas (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Ogasawara-shoto (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Solomon Is. (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Nigeria (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
Additional Images
Bark
Taken Oct 31, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Oct 31, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Oct 25, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Aug 17, 2019 by that’s someguy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 31, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 18, 2020 by Kohei Matsubara (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Oct 25, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Oct 25, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 31, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 15, 2022 by Hemanth Kumar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 13, 2022 by Anders Rasmussen (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3085175)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:58678-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Achyranthes bidentata Blume)