Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Synonyms
Family
Ornamental - The tree is grown as an ornamental plant for gardens and hedges. Food - Fruits are used for making jellies (after processing to reduce astringency).
China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
It grows in forests, thickets, and along riverbanks, often in hilly or mountainous regions (altitude of 900-2500 m asl).
It is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a rounded crown and grows up to 3-10 m tall.
The trunk is woody, with smooth, gray-brown bark when young, becoming rougher and fissured with age. The branching is dense, forming a rounded crown.
Leaves are simple, leathery, and oval-shaped with a pointed tip. They are dark green and glossy above, and paler below. Leaf margins are finely toothed. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stems.
Flowers are white and more or less star-shaped, arranged in clusters at the ends of branches. Each flower has 5 petals and numerous stamens. Flowers are fragrant.
Fruit is a small, round pome, about 1 cm in diameter. It matures from green to red, then to black. The fruit is edible but quite astringent.
Flowering: March – April
Fruiting: June – October