Deciduous tree, to 35 ft tall and 40 ft wide, spreading horizontal. Bark dark grayish brown, thin, not corky. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound (odd), 7-13 leaflets, oblong-ovate to lance-oblong, margins nearly parallel, 7-14 cm long, tip acuminate, base rounded or wedge-shaped, dark yellowish green above, wooly pubescent below; yellow in fall. Flowers yellow-green, in compact, densely pubescent clusters (panicles), 5-6 cm long. Fruit about 1 cm across, blue-black.

Alterative, antibacterial, antirheumatic, aphrodisiac, bitter stomachic, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, ophthalmic, skin, vasodilator and tonic (bark)

Plants for a Future

Phellodendrine, berberine, palmatine, candicine

For acute diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice, vaginal infections including Trichomonas, acute urinary tract infections, enteritis, boils, abscesses, night sweats and skin diseases (bark)

Contraindicated in Spleen Deficiency with diarrhea