Abstract
Members of the genus Arisaema (Araceae) are perennial understory herbs that were traditionally used in medieval Japan in the treatment of flesh wounds resulting from warfare to prevent tetanus. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of Arisaema in the ruins of fortresses dating from the medieval period in Japan. Two hypotheses were tested: that Arisaema are commonly found in the ruins of fortresses in central Japan and that Arisaema grows more intensively at military sites than in surrounding areas. A. serratum var. serratum, A. thunbergii subsp. urashima, A. yamatense subsp. yamatense, A. kishidae, and A. tosaense were observed at 19 of the 27 fortresses examined. A census conducted along the major traditional routes in northwestern Nara Prefecture revealed that Arisaema was clumped more intensely at military sites, and fewer plants were observed in the surrounding areas. These findings indicate a strong association between Arisaema and military sites. Climatic conditions and modification of soil microclimate resulting from fortress construction could not adequately explain this association. However, this association, combined with the historical importance of Arisaema in the treatment of wounds, implies that Arisaema plants found in the fortresses are historical remnants of plants used to treat warriors and commanders in medieval Japan. Key words: Arisaema, commander, ethnobotany, medieval Japan, military, tetanus.
Highlights
The genus Arisaema (Araceae) contains about 180 species of perennial understory herbs that mainly grow in the evergreen and deciduous forests of Asia, as well as some forests in East Africa and North America
Two hypotheses were tested: (i) Arisaema is commonly found in the ruins of fortresses in central Japan; (ii) Arisaema grows more intensively at military sites compared with surrounding areas such as forests and other traditional construction
To compare the distribution pattern of Arisaema between military sites and surrounding areas, a precise census along the major traditional routes was conducted to the south of the Ikoma Mountains and Yata Hills, with the principal town situated at 34°37ˊ45 ̋N and 135°42ˊ2 ̋E
Summary
The genus Arisaema (Araceae) contains about 180 species of perennial understory herbs that mainly grow in the evergreen and deciduous forests of Asia, as well as some forests in East Africa and North America. Most were constructed on mountain ridges or at the tops of hills due to the advantage that these locations offered for surveillance of the surrounding area and for protection, as described in the Nihon Jokaku Taikei (e.g., Murata, 1980). The location of these forts and modification of the soil microenvironment during construction may have provided favorable conditions for the growth of these plants. The present study aimed to elucidate the distribution of Arisaema in the ruins of fortresses dating from the medieval period in Japan. Two hypotheses were tested: (i) Arisaema is commonly found in the ruins of fortresses in central Japan; (ii) Arisaema grows more intensively at military sites compared with surrounding areas such as forests and other traditional construction
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