Dokudami (Fish Mint; Houttuynia cordata) flowers at this time of year in Japan. Dokudami, lit. "poison stop" is considered medicinal, acting as a mild laxative and diuretic as well as a general body cleanser. Some elderly Japanese people still make a tea from its dried leaves, though its medicinal properties are more highly thought of now in the west rather than Japan.
Few people in Japan now eat dokudami leaves in salad and the plant is less widespread than it was 25 years ago, though it has adapted well to most environments in urban and suburban Japan.
Dokudami can be found throughout Japan, China and Korea.
More info on dokudami
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