- Idesia
Taxobox
name = "Idesia polycarpa"
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Idesia polycarpa" leaves and fruit
regnum =Plant ae
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 plant s in the familySalicaceae (formerly placed in the familyFlacourtiaceae ), comprising the single species "Idesia polycarpa". It is native to easternAsia inChina ,Japan ,Korea , andTaiwan .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-greenbark . The shoots are greyish-brown, stout, with a thickpith 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. Theflower s are small, yellowish green, fragrant, and born inpanicle s 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. Thefruit is aberry 5–10 mm diameter, ripening orange to dark purple-red, containing several 2–3 mm brownseed s, 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
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.