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Euonymus alatus

Common name:	Winged Spindle Tree	Family:	Celastraceae
Author:	(Thunb.)Siebold.	Botanical references:	11, 58, 200
Synonyms:	Euonymus striatus
Known Hazards:	Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, a number of plants in this genus are suspected of being poisonous and so some caution is advised.
Range:	E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat:	Thickets and woods in lowland and mountains all over Japan[58].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Celastrus alatus[B,G,H,P] Celastrus striatus[H] E. alata[B,E,P] E. alatus f. subtriflorus[G] E. alatus var. apterus[G] E. alatus var. ciliato-dentatus[G] E. alatus var. pubescens[G] E. alatus var. subtriflorus[G] E. subtriflorus[G,H] E. thunbergianus[G,H] Eunoymus alatus[E] Melanocarya alata[H]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Nisikigi [E], Winged Euonymous [DEN1], Winged Euonymus [H], Winged Spindle Tree [H], Winged Spindletree [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	alatus = winged;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Celastrales. Bittersweet family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China; Japan

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 2m by 3m . It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedge, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit; Leaves; Tea.

Young leaves, boiled[105, 177].
The fruit may be edible[105, 177]. No further details are given, though we would recommend caution in eating any member of this genus[K]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200]. The seed contains 20.5% protein, 44.4% fat and 3.9% ash[218].
These reports of edibility should be treated with some caution, see the notes above on toxicity.
The flowers are a tea substitute[178, 218].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anodyne; Anthelmintic; Antiphlogistic; Antipruritic; Astringent; Blood tonic; Cancer; Carminative; Emmenagogue; Hypoglycaemic.

The stem and branches are alterative, analgesic, anodyne, anthelmintic, anticoagulant, antiphlogistic, antipruritic, astringent blood tonic, carminative, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic, and purgative[147, 178, 218, 279]. It is used in Korea to treat intestinal worms, suppressed menstruation and cancer[279]. A decoction is used in China in the treatment of 'cold' headache, general body aches, pruritis, irregular menstruation and other gynaecological diseases[147].
Plants contain the anticancer compound dulcitol[218].

Other Uses

Hedge.

This species can be grown as a hedge, the var. compactus is normally used[29].

Cultivation details

Thrives in almost any soil, including chalk[200], it is particularly suited to dry shaded areas[200]. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil[1].
A very ornamental and cold-tolerant plant[1], it tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[184].
There are some named varieties developed for their ornamental value[182]. 'Compactus' is a more dense growing form for small gardens[182].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 8 - 12 weeks warm followed by 8 - 16 weeks cold stratification and can then be sown in a cold frame[78, 98]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm long taken at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Very easy[200].

Cultivars

'Compactus': A low-growing cultivar with a dense habit, it is suitable for small gardens[11, 182]. This is the form that is more commonly used when growing the plant as a hedge[29].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[DEN] Data _ Photos (Good Identification info) from the Virginia Tech's Dendrology Deptarments' Tree Fact Sheets.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Eunoymus alatus (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Euonymus alata (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for euonymus alatus (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

References for the family Celastraceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[29] Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974 ISBN 0900629649
A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[98] Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.
Very comprehensive guide to growing trees and shrubs from seed. Not for the casual reader.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

Readers Comments

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