Rhamnaceae FAMILY

Hovenia dulcis

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Hovenia dulcis is a deciduous tree with a fairly open, upright, oval crown, occasionally no more than a shrub; it can be up to 15 metres tall[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has gained a high reputation for protecting the liver from alcohol damage, and is cultivated for its fruit in Japan and China[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. The plant is sometimes also grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - China to the Himalayas.

HabitatPlains and mountains; at elevations up to 2,000 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. ]. Secondary forest; at elevations from 200 - 1,400 metres[ 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. ].