Japanese raisin tree
Hovenia acerba

Family: Rhamnaceae

What it is like

A deciduous shrub or tree. It can be 10-25 m tall. The leaves are oval and heart shaped at the base. They are 8-17 cm long by 6-12 cm wide. They are papery. The flowers are at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The fruit is massed in clusters on the ends of the stems. The fruit are yellow but become brown when ripe. They can be 6.5 mm across. The fruiting stalks becomes fattened and fleshy. The seeds are dark brown. There are 2 botanical varieties.

There are 2 Hovenia species.

Where it is found

A temperate climate plant. It prefers full sun and well drained soil. It needs protecting from dry winds. It grows at 1450 m altitude in Yunnan in China. It grows in subtropical broadleaved evergreen forest. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Tibet

How it is used for food

Fruit used for brewing wine. Fruit are also eaten raw. The fruiting stalks are rich in sugar and edible. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit stalk, flower bud

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

M'an Tsz Kwo, Shi-pi, Sicka, Vau-tang-bawk, Yaigueizau, Zhi ju

Synonyms

Hovenia inaequalis DC.; Ziziphus esquirolii H. Lev.; and others