Piercing oil tree
Xylosma congesta

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 10 m high. It has sharp spines on the trunk. The leaves are oval and 3-8 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. They taper to the tip and are rounded at the base. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and greenish-yellow. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flowers occur in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is like a berry and black. It is 3-4 mm across. There are 2-3 seeds.

Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

It grows in limestone regions in southern China. It grows in sunny hillsides between 500-1,100 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Tibet

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds - oil

How it is grown

In China plants flower in July to November and fruit August to December.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Probably now Croton congesta