Hovenia dulcis

Taxobox
name = Japanese Raisin Tree

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image_caption = Japanese Raisin Tree, "Hovenia dulcis"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rhamnaceae
genus = "Hovenia"
genus_authority = Thunb.
species = "H. dulcis"
binomial = "Hovenia dulcis"
binomial_authority = Thunb.

The Japanese Raisin Tree ("Hovenia dulcis") is a hardy tree that occurs from Japan, over Eastern China and Korea to the Himalayas (up to altitudes of 2,000 m), growing preferably in a sunny position on moist sandy or loamy soils.

It has however been introduced as an ornamental tree to several countries. The glossy leaves are large and pointed. The trees bear clusters of small cream-coloured hermaphrodytic flowers in July. The drupes appear at the ends of edible fleshy fruit stalks, which is a type of accessory fruit.

The sweet and fragrant fruit is edible in raw or cooked state. In dried condition, they look and taste like raisins. An extract of the seeds, bough and young leaves can be used as a substitute for honey. [ Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 ]
An extract of the leave contains hodulcine, a glycoside which exibits an anti-sweet activity.Kinghorn, A.D. and Compadre, C.M. Alernative Sweeteners: Third Edition, Revised and Expanded, Marcel Dekker ed., New York, 2001. ISBN 0-8247-0437-1 ]

Synonyms

*"Hovenia acerba" - Lindl.
*"Hovenia inequalis" - DC.

Footnotes

References

* Macoboy S. 1991. "What tree is that?", 1991. ISBN 1 86302 1310
* [http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/FOC/projsfoc.html Flora of China]
* Huxley. A. 1992. "The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening" MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5