Idesia

Taxobox
name = "Idesia polycarpa"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Idesia polycarpa" leaves and fruit
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Malpighiales
familia = Salicaceae / Flacourtiaceae
genus = "Idesia"
genus_authority = Maxim.
species = "I. polycarpa"
binomial = "Idesia polycarpa"
binomial_authority = Maxim.

"Idesia" is a genus of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae (formerly placed in the family Flacourtiaceae), comprising the single species "Idesia polycarpa". It is native to eastern Asia in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200145 "Idesia" (genus page)] , [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014461 "Idesia polycarpa" (species page)] ]

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching a height of 8-21 m, with a trunk up to 50 cm diameter with smooth greyish-green bark. The shoots are greyish-brown, stout, with a thick pith core. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, 8–20 cm long and 7–20 cm broad, with a red 4–30 cm petiole bearing two or more glands; the leaves are dark green above, glaucous below, and have a coarsely serrated margin. The flowers are small, yellowish green, fragrant, and born in panicles 13–30 cm long. It is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate trees; the male flowers are 12–16 mm diameter, the female flowers 9 mm diameter. The fruit is a berry 5–10 mm diameter, ripening orange to dark purple-red, containing several 2–3 mm brown seeds, and often persisting until the following spring.Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.]

Cultivation and uses

The fruit is edible either raw or cooked. [Tanaka, T. (1976). "Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World". Keigaku Publishing.]

The species is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in other temperate regions including Europe.

References