Eurya japonica

Eurya japonica, known as East Asian eurya, is a 1–3.5 m tall shrub in the Pentaphylacaceae family. It is found in eastern China, Korea, and Japan. It is used as an ornamental plant. In shinto it is a sacred tree, whose leaves are used as sacrificial offerings.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m high. It spreads 2.4-6 m wide. The leaves are broadly oval. They are leathery and 3-5 cm long. They taper at both ends. There are teeth along the edges. The flowers are white or cream with pink tints. They are of one sex. The fruit are purple-black berries. They are 5 mm across.

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a tea substitute or to adulterate China tea.

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses are known.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. In E China it grows on mountain slopes and in valleys between 300-2,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Where It Grows

American Samoa, Asia, Australia, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, SE Asia, Sikkim, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Prefers a moderately fertile free-draining moisture retentive soil in sun or part shade with shelter from cold drying winds. Probably best grown in a well-drained lime-free humus-rich soil. Plants grow much taller in the milder areas of Britain. Protect plants from frost when they are young. The dwarf form that is grown in Britain is quite hardy once it is established. The flowers are malodorous. The trees are pollarded in the Himalayas and the leaves used for leaf manure. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, or in early spring in a greenhouse. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Alternatively, take cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6–8 cm with a slight heel, in July or August, and root in individual pots in a frame. Success rate is high.

Other Uses

The wood is soft and close-grained and is used mainly as fuel.

Notes

Also put in the family Theaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Arruttuvarai, Baunra, Chontra nhat, Deura, Gonte, Hisakaki, Huluni, Jhingni, Murmura, Saseni, Sihneh, Taung-laphet, Taw-laphet, Tukcheong, Tuksol, Tungchung

References (8)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 215
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 590
• Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 318
• Lalfakzuala, R., 2007, Ethnobotanical usages of plants in western Mizoram. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol 6(3) pp 480-493
• Nov. gen. pl. 3:67. 1783

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