Japanese Arrowroot

Pueraria montana is a member of the Fabaceae (legume) family and is native to regions including Vietnam, China, and parts of Africa and the Americas. It is widely known as kudzu, particularly in North America, where it has been introduced and has become invasive in some areas. The species is characterized by its climbing growth habit and is often used in traditional medicine. The plant has a broad distribution, spanning continents and numerous countries. Genetic studies suggest that introduced kudzu populations in the United States may have mixed ancestry from multiple Pueraria species, complicating classification and management efforts.