Some Ethnobotanical Considerations relating to 3-unit Steamer Set in Yayoi Pottery

Abstract

In Yayoi pottery, there is a three-unit steamer set for cooking grains, yams and starched fruits. The scaly leaved branches of Juniperus chinensis L. (Sabina chinensis Ant.) were employed as the stopper or packing materials to the pore or pores in this set. This is synthetically concluded from several but different evidences, phytomorphological, ethnobotanical, ethymological and old literary, respectively.