Idesia

Idesia Polycarpa 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.[1]

Idesia Polycarpa as established by Scopoli is a suppressed name; see Diospyros.

Idesia
Idesia polycarpa leaves and fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Salicaceae
Subfamily: Salicoideae
Tribe: Saliceae
Genus: Idesia
Maxim.
Species:
I. polycarpa
Binomial name
Idesia polycarpa
Synonyms

Cathayeia Ohwi

It is a medium-sized deciduo Polycarpaus 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.[1][2]

Cultivation and uses

The fruit is edible either raw or cooked.[3]

The species is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in other temperate regions including Europe.[2]

  • Trunk
    Trunk
  • Leaves
    Leaves
  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • Fruit
    Fruit

References
  1. Flora of China: Idesia (genus page), Idesia polycarpa (species page)
  2. Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  3. Tanaka, T. (1976). Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing.

Media related to Idesia polycarpa at Wikimedia Commons

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