Fabaceae FAMILY

Styphnolobium japonicum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant contains cytosine, which resembles nicotine and is similarly toxic[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. An extract made from the leaves and the fruit of this tree has been used to adulterate prepared opium[ 178 Title Chinese Materia Medica. Publication Author Stuart. Rev. G. A. Publisher Taipei. Southern Materials Centre Year 1911 ISBN - Description A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating. ].

Botanical Description

Styphnolobium japonicum is a deciduous tree growing up to 25 metres tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The usually short bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 1073 Title The Industries of Japan Publication Author Rein J.J. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Hodder and Stoughton; London Year 1889 ISBN Description It might be dated, but it still contains lots of relevant information about the useful plants of Japan. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is cultivated for medicinal purposes and as a source of rutin, and is also commonly grown as an ornamental. The flower buds were formerly traded as a dyestuff for the batik industry[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - Japan, Korea. Widely cultivated, but not native, in China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].

HabitatOpen country; at elevations from 300 - 1,000 metres in W. China[ 109 Title Plantae Wilsonae. Vol 1 - 3 Publication Author Wilson. E. H. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher University Press; Cambridge. Year 1911 - 1917 ISBN Description Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ].