Flueggea suffruticosa

(Pall.) Baill.

Phyllanthaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves Potential hazards — see below 556 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Flueggea suffruticosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is a deciduous shrub that is native to East Asia. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name yī yè qiū (Chinese: 一叶秋).

Description

A shrub. It grows 1-3 m tall. It has many branches and the branches are angular when young. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. Male flowers are in clusters of 3-18. The fruit are 3 sided capsules 2-5 mm across. They are reddish-brown when ripe.

Edible Uses

The fruit and leaves are edible.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The plant contains low levels of alkaloids which affect the nervous system.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

F. suffruticosa is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, where its twigs and leaves are used for the treatment of lumbago, limb numbness, and indigestion. However, there is no scientific evidence that it has any clinical effect.

Known Hazards

The plant contains low levels of alkaloids, particularly securinine, which affect and stimulate the nervous system.

Distribution

It grows in temperate places. In China it grows of the edges of forests between 500-2,500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Central Asia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan,

Notes

Also put in the family Euphorbiaceae. It contains the alkaloid securinine that stimulates the central nervous system. The leaves and flowers are used in medicine.

Synonyms

Flueggea flueggeoides (Mull.Arg.) G. L. WebsterPhyllanthus ramiflorus (Aiton) Pers.Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) RehderSecurinega ramiflora Muell.-Arg.and others

Also Known As

Kwangdaessari

References (4)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 564 (As Securinega suffruticosa)
J. Arnold Arbor. 13:338. 1932 (As Securinega suffruticosa)
Pemberton, R. W. & Lee, N. S., 1996, Wild Food Plants in South Korea: Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57-70 (As Securinega suffruticosa)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Securinega suffruticosa)