Oleaceae FAMILY

Ligustrum japonicum

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, at least one member of this genus is recorded as being mildly toxic and it is quite possible that other members of the genus also contain toxins[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ].

Botanical Description

Ligustrum japonicum is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow around 3 - 5 metres tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it makes an effective hedge. Ligustrum japonicum is listed as invasive in parts of the USA, Chile and Brazil. Often grown as a hedge and ornamental plant, it can escape from cultivation and invades lowlands and uplands, fence rows, abandoned pastures, intermittent streambeds and woodlands. It colonizes areas by root sprouting and through animal dispersal of the seeds. It forms dense thickets in fields and forest understoreys, shading and displacing many native species in the process. It is difficult to eradicate once established[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - southeast China, Japan, Korea.

HabitatWoods and thickets in lowland and hills, C. and S. Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Thickets, forest edges, damp forests, gallery forests, disturbed sites and as a cultivated plant in urban areas[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].