Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Medicine - In traditional Chinese healing syste,, the bark has been used for anti-inflammatory properties. Ornamental - The tree is choice for landscaping due to its attractive features. Industrial - The thick and corky bark can be used for some cork products.
China, Japan, Korea
It occurs in temperate mixed deciduous forests, often along riverbanks or hillsides.
Named after its distinctive corky bark, which is a source of antibacterial berberine.
It is a dioeciou, deciduous tree reaching heights of 30-45 m.
Stem develops as a single central trunk that later develops strong lateral branches, forming a spreading canopy. The bark is thick and corky (suberized layer), becoming increasingly fissured and furrowed with age, developing a rough texture. It ranges in color from light brown to gray-brown and reaches up to 2 m in diameter.
Leaves are compound, reaching 25-40 cm in length, and feature an odd-pinnate arrangement. Imagine leaflets arranged on either side of a central stalk, with a single one crowning the tip. Leaflets are dark green and as autumn arrives, the leaves transform, turning vibrant shades of yellow.
Small and greenish-yellow flowers in a cluster are borne separately in male and female trees, each producing only one type of flower. The wind carries pollen between them.
It produces small drupes after successful pollination. Drupes have a fleshy outer layer surrounding a hard pit containing a single seed.
Flowering: May – June
Fruiting: October