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Idesia polycarpa

Common name:		Family:	Flacourtiaceae
Author:	Maxim.	Botanical references:	11, 58, 200
Synonyms:	Polycarpa maximowiczii (Lindl. ex Carriè re.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat:	Hills and mountain forests above elevations of 2000 metres[58, 109].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	polycarpa = many fruits
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Violales. Flacourtia family

Physical Characteristics

A decidious tree growing to 12m by 10m . It is hardy to zone 5 and is frost tender. It is in flower from June to July. The scented flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant not is self-fertile. We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 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 moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Secondary.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked[105, 177]. The fruit is a many seeded berry with a pulpy flesh[2], it is about 10mm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a neutral to slightly acid loamy soil, but tolerates a chalky sub-soil if the top soil is deep[200]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[188].
The dormant plant is hardy to about -15° c, though the tree is somewhat hardier if the wood is thoroughly ripened by a long hot summer[200]. The young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A very ornamental plant[1]. The flowers have a most delicious perfume, which can be wafted far and wide by warm breezes[245].
Trees produce fruit regularly at Kew[11].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required. Female plants can produce some fruit in the absence of a male plant[11].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[78]. Germination is usually very good[78]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their fist two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring, after the last expected frosts and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[K]. Plants cannot be sexed until they flower[78].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[78].
Layering in spring. Takes 12 months[78].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers have a most delicious perfume, which can be wafted far and wide by warm breezes.

Suppliers

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

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Flacourtiaceae.

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]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[109] Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader.

[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.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[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.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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