Japanese cleyera
Ternstroemia gymnanthera

Family: Pentaphylacaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2-10 m tall. The leaves are broadly oval and 4-12 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. They are pale green underneath. The flowers can occur singly in the axils of leaves or as several in clusters on leafless branches. They are 1-2 cm across. The petals are pale yellow. The fruit is purplish red when mature. They are round and 1.5 cm across. There are 2 locules and 1 or 2 seeds in each.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests between 200-2,800 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

In China plants flower May to July and fruit September to November.

Its other names

Local names

Giang hoa-tran, Kleyera jepang

Synonyms

Ternstroemia gymnanthera var. gymnanthera; Ternstroemia gymnanthera var. wightii (Choisy) Hand.Mazz.;