Oriental Raisin Tree
Hovenia dulcis · Rhamnaceae · 헛개나무
Look
- Leaves
- Broadly egg-shaped, pointed at the tip, with a lopsided, slightly heart-shaped or round base and three large veins developing from the lower part. 8 to 15 cm long and 6 to 12 cm wide, with blunt teeth on the margin.
- Flowers
- In late July, green flowers 7 mm across open in cymes 4 to 6 cm across.
- Fruit
- Round, brownish fruit 8 mm across with three chambers, each holding one seed; the fruit stalk swells irregularly and lumpily, and it matures in October.
- Bark
- Dark brown.
Where it grows
- In Korea
- Native (Korean Peninsula)
- Native to
- Found in China, Japan and elsewhere; in Korea it grows in Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeonggi-do and Hwanghae-do.
- Ecology
- A moderately shade-tolerant tree that grows in shade or sun and does well in fertile sandy loam. It is strongly cold-hardy, shade tolerant, salt tolerant and pollution tolerant, but weak in drought tolerance. It grows fast and sprouts vigorously.