A deciduous tree, 40-60 ft, (12-18 m). Stem emits a sweet-spicy odor when bruised. Leaves, alternate, simple, distinct 3-lobed (middle triangular), margin finely serrate, glabrous above and usually downy beneath, purple-hue in spring then lustrous dark green, may show yellow in fall. Male inflorescence a short spike, several arranged in a raceme. Female inflorescence 24–43-flowered; peduncle 3–6 cm, occasionally lenticellate, aglandular. Male flowers: stamens many, filaments unequal, anthers slightly shorter than filaments. Female flowers: staminode teeth 4–7, needlelike, 4–8 mm; ovary pubescent, styles 6–10 mm, usually coiled backwards. Infructescence globose, 3–4 cm wide. Capsules with persistent staminodes. Seeds many, brown.

Anodyne, antiphlogistic, astringent, balsamic and haemostatic (stem); antirheumatic, diuretic and galactogogue (fruit)

Plants For A Future
Flora of China

The leaves or roots are used in the treatment of cancerous growths. The resin from the stems is used to treat bleeding boils, carbuncles, toothache and tuberculosis; mixed with Rhamnus crenata fruits and used as a suppository for constipation. The stem bark is used in the treatment of fluxes and skin diseases. The fruits are used in the treatment of arthritis, lumbago, oedema, oliguria, decreased milk production and skin diseases. The decoction of seeds are used for treating arthralgia with numbness and muscular contracture, edema, stomach pain, amenorrhea, carbuncles and eczema.

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 386, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.