Akebia Trifoliate

(The passage is trilingual: English, traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese)

English（英文原文）:

This special fruit which we haven’t seen is called “Akebia Trifoliate” in latin language, and it has another name in British language：“Three-leaf Akebia”.

Its latin name is composed by two parts, “Akebia” and “Trifoliate”, the word “Trifoliate” is a compound word, the prefix “tri-” means three, this style is used in French or in Spanish with the number three as “trois” or “tres” on etymology. And its suffix “foliate” symbolises “leaf”, if you know French, you will find immediately the similar spelling of  “foliate” and “feuille”(“Leaf” in French), even the Esperanto just copied the original form from latin language “folio” as its word to express “leaf”.

Nevertheless, what is “Akebia”? Okay let’s have a look! “Akebia” belongs to the genus of woody vines in the family of Lardizabalaceae which has two flowers in male and female, the woody vines are one of its typical feature and its compound leaves are made up of leaflets. There are 35 species in 8 genera included in the faimily. Most of them can be found in central Chile, and the limited areas in Japan or in China.

The fruit of the Akebia Trifoliate is in cylindrical form with 10 to 13 centimetres in length, when it has been mature in later August to September, its colour has become to purple. It has been used in herbal medicine since 2000 years in China. The antioxidant, Vitamin C has a high level in the fruit of Akebia, which can protects the body against environmental agressors. The fruit contains a combination of Vitamin B6 and zinc could strengthen the immune system. Because of the high nutritious and economic value, this sweet taste fruit are favoured these years.

It would be better to have the fruit of Akebia Trifoliate both in raw or cooked. The Japanese believes that the raw fruit has the bland favour, consequently, they commonly have the fruit with the lemon juice to balance the sweetness favour and to add complexity. The fruit growing in the wild mountain was discovered at first time in northern Japan, and it was a large part of diet in Tohoku(northern area of Japan). Before sugar become widely available, the Akebia was regarded as the “Princess of the Mountain” even being the main source of sweetness.

國語譯文:

這種大家從未見過的奇異果實生物學名稱為 『三葉木通』, 由於其成熟於八月至九月間, 待果實成熟, 包裹果肉的紫紅色外皮會炸裂開來, 故此民眾也稱其為 『八月炸』。『三葉木通』的英文名稱 『Akebia Trifoliate』來源於拉丁文, 其還有一個通俗名 『Three-leaf Akebia』。

拉丁文中的『Akebia Trifoliate』是一個合成詞, 其後半部分『Trifoliate』中的『tri-』乃表示數字三之前綴, 這種拼寫同樣被用在法文和西班牙文中作『trois』及『tres』, 其三者具相似性於詞原學上。後半部分『Trifoliate』中的『foliate』則為拉丁文中『樹葉』一詞之變體, 假使你們懂法文, 你們不難立刻聯想到法文中表示『樹葉』一詞 『feuille』之拼寫, 甚至世界語(Esperanto)直接選用拉丁文之表示樹葉一詞『 folio』(拉丁文、世界語兼用詞)來表示樹葉之意。

那麼什麼是 『Akebia』? 關於這點, 我們起來看看噢!『Akebia』在國文中被翻譯為『木通』, 今天我們見到的『三葉木通』就屬於木通科, 木通屬植物。木通科植物每花瓣多生二蕊, 雄雌各一, 木本莖和複葉為其主要特徵,生小葉, 以五者居多。在木通家族中, 迄今為止已發現35種植物, 分歸8屬。它們中的大部分可在智利、日本、中國大陸和臺灣島本土之南投、臺東或花蓮地區的海拔1800至2400公尺的中央山脈中被尋到。

『三葉木通』之果實呈圓柱體狀, 長約10至13公分, 每年八月下旬至國慶節是『三葉木通』成熟時期, 彼時果實由黃變紫, 逐漸裂開, 並由此得名『八月炸』。其果實富含抗氧化的維他命C, 且維他命B6及鋅之含量亦居高位, 可大幅提升免疫力以抵禦環境中的有害生命體入侵。由於『三葉木通』較高的營養和經濟價值, 這些年其在市集上備受在地民眾青睞。

『三葉木通』生享或烘焙、翻炒後食用均可, 醱酵後食用風味獨特。 但道地吃法還數日式為聖, 通常日本人覺得生食『三葉木通』之果實味覺層次頗顯單調, 遂以果蘸醬, 檸檬汁為優勝, 中和果之甜, 揉合檸檬汁之酸, 如此豐富層次, 久久回甘。

日本的『三葉木通』歷史久遠, 但近來首次於日本東北(Tohoku)地區深野山林中發現實屬罕見, 歷史上『三葉木通』曾是日本東北在地民眾的主食之一。同時在現代製糖技術發展起來之前, 『三葉木通』也一度是生活在日本和臺灣島之民眾獲得甜味的主要原料。

汉语/中文译文：

这种大家从未见过的奇异果实生物学名称为 『三叶木通』, 由于其成熟于八月至九月间, 待果实成熟, 包裹果肉的紫红色外皮会炸裂开来, 故此民众也称其为 『八月炸』。『三叶木通』的英文名称 『Akebia Trifoliate』来源于拉丁文, 其还有一个通俗名 『Three-leaf Akebia』。

拉丁文中的『Akebia Trifoliate』是一个合成词, 其后半部分『Trifoliate』中的『tri-』乃表示数字三之前缀, 这种拼写同样被用在法文和西班牙文中作『trois』及『tres』, 其三者具相似性于词原学上。后半部分『Trifoliate』中的『foliate』则为拉丁文中『树叶』一词之变体, 假使你们懂法文, 你们不难立刻联想到法文中表示『树叶』一词 『feuille』之拼写, 甚至世界语(Esperanto)直接选用拉丁文之表示树叶一词『folio』(拉丁文、世界语兼用词)来表示树叶之意。

那么什么是『Akebia』? 关于这点, 我们起来看看噢!『Akebia』在中文里被翻译为『木通』, 今天我们见到的『三叶木通』就属于木通科, 木通属植物。木通科植物每花瓣多生二蕊, 雄雌各一, 木本茎和复叶为其主要特征,生小叶, 以五者居多。在木通家族中, 迄今为止已发现35种植物, 分归8属。它们中的大部分可在智利、日本、中国大陆和台湾岛本土之南投、台东或花莲地区的海拔1800至2400米的中央山脉中被寻到。

『三叶木通』之果实呈圆柱体状, 长约10至13厘米, 每年八月下旬至『十月初』是『三叶木通』成熟时期, 彼时果实由黄变紫, 逐渐裂开, 并由此得名『八月炸』。其果实富含抗氧化的维他命C, 且维他命B6及锌之含量亦居高位, 可大幅提升免疫力以抵御环境中的有害生命体入侵。由于『三叶木通』较高的营养和经济价值, 这些年其在市场上备受当地群众青睐。

『三叶木通』生享或烘焙、翻炒后食用均可, 酦酵后食用风味独特。 但地道吃法还数日式为圣, 通常日本人觉得生食『三叶木通』之果实味觉层次颇显单调, 遂以果蘸酱, 柠檬汁为优胜, 中和果之甜, 揉合柠檬汁之酸, 如此丰富层次, 久久回甘。

日本的『三叶木通』历史久远, 但近来首次于日本东北(Tohoku)地区深野山林中发现实属罕见, 历史上『三叶木通』曾是日本东北当地人民的主食之一。同时在现代制糖技术发展起来之前, 『三叶木通』也一度是生活在日本和台湾岛的人们获得甜味的主要原料。

References（参考文献）:

1. Akebia | Climbing Vine, Deciduous, Fragrant | Britannica

2. Three-leaf akebia | plant | Britannica

3. tri- | Meaning of prefix tri- by etymonline

4. foliate | Search Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com)

5. dict.cc | folio | English-Esperanto Dictionary

6. An overview of Lardizabalaceae — University of Helsinki

7. Ranunculales | Flowering Plants, Buttercups & Aquatic Species | Britannica

8. Frontiers | The Akebia Genus as a Novel Forest Crop: A Review of Its Genetic Resources, Nutritional Components, Biosynthesis, and Biological Studies (frontiersin.org)

9.Purple Akebi Fruit Information, Recipes and Facts (specialtyproduce.com)

10.三葉木通 (biodiv.tw)