Japanese raisin tree

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Japanese raisin tree
Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis)

Japanese raisin tree ( Hovenia dulcis )

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden I
Order : Rose-like (rosales)
Family : Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)
Genre : Hovenia
Type : Japanese raisin tree
Scientific name
Hovenia dulcis
Thunb.
Inflorescences

The Japanese raisin tree or Quaffbirne and Japanese mahogany ( Hovenia dulcis , Syn. : Hovenia acerba . Lindl , Hovenia inequalis . DC ) is a plant from the family of the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae).

description

Ripe fruits of Hovenia dulcis on the edible fruit stalks

The Japanese raisin tree is a small, deciduous, relatively fast-growing tree or shrub that reaches heights of growth of around 10 meters. The smooth bark of the fragile twigs is reddish-brown to purple. The bark is grayish-brown, furrowed or cracked and scaly and flakes off in smaller plates.

The alternately arranged, simple, large, shiny leaves taper to a point and are about 7 to 17 cm long and 4 to 11 cm wide. The petiole is 2 to 4.5 cm long. They are ovate to elliptical and blunt to slightly heart-shaped at the base. The leaf margin is more or less serrated to toothed, the leaves are almost bare and only sometimes a little hairy on the lower main veins. The veins raised underneath are threefold.

The trees usually bring terminal, asymmetrical, from May to July zymös- panicles inflorescences produced. The small, cream-colored, yellowish-green to light green and fragrant, hermaphrodite , five-fold flowers have a diameter of 6 to 8 mm with a double perianth . The egg-shaped, internally keeled sepals are 2.2 to 2.5 mm long and 1.6 to 2 mm wide. The spatulate petals are 2.4 to 2.6 mm long and 1.8 to 2.1 mm wide, they each envelop the stamens. There is only one circle with five free stamens . The draft tube ovary is half inferior dreiästigen with a stylus , the scars are small, capitate and dull. The plump discus is hairy.

The actual fruit, a hemispherical, smooth and pointed, three-part, dark brown, leathery, septicidal capsule fruit (or nut) with a permanent, cup-shaped flower base , has a diameter of 6.5 to 7.5 mm, is edible and contains three Seeds . But the fruit stalk or the side axes of the inflorescence swell in the lower part red-brownish, fleshy and thereby an edible false fruit is formed. The smooth, brownish to blackish, flattened seeds are 3.5 to 5 mm in size. The fruits are ripe from August to October.

Occurrence

The distribution area of Hovenia dulcis stretches from Japan through Korea and south-east, south-central China to the Himalayas and India as well as to north Vietnam and north Thailand . It usually grows at altitudes between 200 and 1400 m, up to 2000 m, preferably in sunny locations with moist loamy or sandy soils .

use

Outside of its natural range, it is planted as a hardy ornamental wood. In parks and gardens, Hovenia dulcis is seldom used as a slow-growing ornamental wood.

Furniture is made from the fine, hard wood . The wood is also known as Japanese mahogany.

The sweet, fragrant fruit stalks can be eaten raw or cooked. When dried, they resemble raisins in taste and appearance . A sweetener is obtained from them . The wood of the tree is soaked in alcohol or boiled into tea and sold as a remedy in Korea, for example, which helps against discomfort when traveling or after drinking alcohol. The active ingredient responsible for this is the flavonoid dihydromyricetin .

literature

Web links

Commons : Japanese Raisin Tree ( Hovenia dulcis )  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Havenia Dulcis in the dictionary of the Korean Internet portal Naver (Korean).