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Xylosma japonica

Common name:		Family:	Flacourtiaceae
Author:	(Walp.)A.Gray.	Botanical references:	11, 58, 200
Synonyms:	Xylosma racemosum (Miq.), Xylosma congestum ((Lour.)Merrill.), Hisingera racemosa (Siebold.& Zucc.), Hisingera japonica (Siebold.& Zucc.), Flacourtia japonica (Walp.), Croton congestum (Lour.), Apactis japonica (Thunb.)
Known Hazards:	The leaves contain a glycoside[179]. We are not sure if this means that it is poisonous[K].
Range:	E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat:	Near seashores, C. and S. Japan[58]. Woodlands in Korea[109].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	X. congesta[G] X. racemosa[G]
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Violales. Flacourtia family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen tree growing to 25m. It is hardy to zone 8. It is in flower from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. 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. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedge, Woodland, Canopy.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young shoots - cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[179]. The leaves contain a glycoside[179], see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Oxytoxic Poultice.

The ashes of the stem bark are mixed with water and used to treat jaundice scrofula, sores, tumours etc[218]. They are also used to speed parturition[218].

Other Uses

Hedge.

Tolerant of clipping, the plant can be grown as a formal hedge especially in areas cooler than its native range where it only develops into a shrub or small tree[200].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in full sun or light shade in most well-drained soils[200]. Tolerant of poor rocky soils[200]. Judging by the plants native habitat in Japan, it probably tolerates maritime exposure[K].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10° c[200]. Even in the milder areas of the country it usually only makes a small tree or shrub[11].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. 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, July/August in a frame[200].

Suppliers

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

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Xylosma congesta (a possible synonym).

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic 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.

[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.

[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.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[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.

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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
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