Evergreen dogwood, Mountain lychee
Cornus capitata

Family: Cornaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree or shrub. It can lose its leaves. It grows 3-15 m high. The bark is greyish brown. The leaves are opposite. They are 4-9 cm long by 1.2-3 cm wide. They are oval and leathery. They are pale underneath. The flowers are yellowish. Flowers are closely packed in heads. These are 1-1.5 cm across. The fruit join into a fleshy, strawberry-like head. These are 2.5-5 cm across. They are juicy but tasteless.

There are about 45 Cornus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in evergreen and mixed forests between 1000-3200 m altitude in China. In Nepal is grows between 1700-2600 m altitude. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,500-2,200 m above sea level. It is mostly on moist hillsides. It will grow on most soils and in most positions. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought. Hobart Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 8-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Britain, China, Europe, Himalayas (country/location of origin), India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tasmania, Tibet

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is edible and sweet tasting. It is eaten raw. They are also brewed into alcohol. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. They are also made into preserves.

It is enjoyed in some places.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In Yunnan fruit are available from August to September.

Its other names

Local names

Bamora, Bentham’s cornel, Bhamora, Damaru, Da-ming-der-shing, De ji er, Dieng-soh-japhon, Himalayan strawberry tree, Jisuo, Jisuziguo, Krimbal, Laka, Namet, Phastil naminpluse, Phaytse, Pohon kornus himalaya, Poitsi, Thammal, Thanboi, Tharbal, Tharma, Tharmal, Tharwar, Thesi, Tou zhuang si zao hua, Tumbuk

Synonyms

Benthamia capitata (Wallich) Nakai; Benthamia fragifera Lindley; Benthamidia capitata (Wallich) H. Hara; Cornus capitata subsp. emeiensis (W. P. Fang & Hsieh) Q. Y. Xiang; Cornus capitata subsp. brevipedunculata (W. P. Fang & Hsieh) Q. Y. Xiang; Cynoxylon capitatum (Wallich) Nakai [not in IK]; Cynoxylon glabriusculum Pojarkova; Cynoxylon yunnanense Pojarkova; Dendrobenthamia brevipedunculata W. P. Fang & Hsieh; Dendrobenthamia capitata (Wallich ex Roxburgh) Hutchinson; Dendrobenthamia capitata var. emeiensis (W. P. Fang & Hsieh) W. P. Fang & W. K. Hu; Dendrobenthamia emeiensis W. P. Fang & Hsieh; Dendrobenthamia tonkinensis W. P. Fang var. brevipedunculata (W. P. Fang & Hsieh) W. P. Fang & W. K. Hu.