analysis of essential macro-micro mineral content of twelve hosta taxa

Hosta is a perennial ornamental herb, sometimes consumed as a vegetable in Japan. We evaluated the leaf mineral content of twelve hosta plant taxa, namely Hosta sieboldiana, H. alismifolia, H. sieboldii, H. longissima, H. tardiva, H. longipes var. gracillima, H. nakaiana, H. kikutii var. caput-avis, H. kikutii var. polyneuron, H. longipes var. caduca, H. kiyosumiensis, and H. montana. The leaf K content of 12 hosta plant taxa ranged from 2.85 to 4.05%; the P content from 0.13 to 0.34%; Ca from 0.02 to 1.15%; Mg from 540.00 to 794.12 ppm; Mn 26.93 to 133.77 ppm; Zn 115.39 to 334.52 ppm; Cu 1.78 to 5.95 ppm and Fe 26.43 to 251.95 ppm. Our results indicate that H. alismifolia is the best source of K; H. sieboldii the best sources of Ca and Fe; H. nakaiana of P, Mg and Zn; and H. longissima of Mg and Cu. The K content value for H. montana was statistically identical to that for H. alismifolia. The Cu content values for H. montana and H. nakaiana were statically identical to that for H. longissima. H. alismifolia, H. sieboldii, H. longissima, H. nakaiana, and H. montana were found to be richer in the minerals studied than the other species studied here.