Hovenia dulcis

Description

Tree, rarely a shrub, deciduous, to 10–30 m tall. Branchlets brown or black-purple, glabrous, with inconspicuous lenticels. The glossy leaves are large and pointed. The trees bear clusters of small cream-coloured hermaphroditic flowers in July. The drupes appear at the ends of an edible rachis (fleshy fruit stalk), which is a type of accessory fruit.

Uses

The fleshy rachis of the infructescence is sweet, fragrant and is edible raw or cooked. Dried, they look and taste like raisins. An extract of the seeds, bough, and young leaves can be used as a substitute for honey and is used for making wine and candy.

An extract of the leaves contains hodulcine, a glycoside which exhibits an anti-sweet activity.

The timber is fine and hard and is used for building construction and fine furniture.

Hovenia dulcis is a natural source for dihydromyricetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant properties and is primarily found in the tree's leaves, stems, and bark. It has been used in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicines to treat fever, parasitic infection, as a laxative, and a treatment of liver diseases, and as a hangover treatment. It is also used as medicine for preventing and treating chronic diseases as well as skincare products for its ability to protect skin from UV-induced damage and aging.

Reforestation

In Thailand Hovenia dulcis is relatively rare, typically found in the stream-irrigated valleys of primary lower mountain evergreen forest located between 1,075 and 1,250 metres above sea level. However, it is one of 30 potential species identified as a substitute for Eucalyptus spp., commonly planted for reforestation, that would meet the demand for rapid growth while not disturbing the ecological balance.

In Thailand Hovenia dulcis grows at roughly the same rate as eucalyptus, reaching six metres in height within three years. One major asset is that the growth form of the tree allows other species to regenerate nearby. Furthermore, the tree is known to attract several varieties both of birds and of mammals which feed on the seeds and fruit. As well as promoting faunal diversity, this process assists in improving soil fertility through humification.

Synonyms

• Hovenia inequalis – DC.

Gallery

File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 01.jpg File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 04.jpg File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 08.jpg File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 12.jpg File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 22.jpg File:枳椇Hovenia dulcis 20210519085037 24.jpg

References

References

1. Cf. Dechoum M, T Castellani, S Zabra, M Rejmànek, N Peronni & J Tamashiro (2014) Community structure, succession and invasibility in a seasonal deciduous forest in southern Brazil. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Biological Invasions (Neobiota 2014), p. 8.
2. Facciola, Stephen. (1 November 1990). "Cornucopia: a source book of edible plants". Kampong Publication.
3. Lyn O'Brien Nabors. (1 June 2001). "Alternative Sweeteners 3e". CRC PressI Llc.
4. Marchio, Cathy. (4 January 2024). "Does Dihydromyricetin (DHM) Have Any Side Effects?".
5. (Jul 2010). "Hovenia dulcis—an Asian traditional herb". Planta Med..
6. (2023). "Dihydromyricetin alleviates intestinal inflammation by changing intestinal microbial metabolites and inhibiting the expression of the MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway". Animal Research and One Health.
7. {{cite patent
8. "Kamol Sukin "Tropical Feast"".
9. [http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/AC648E/ac648e0e.htm G. Pakkad, S. Elliott, V. Anusarnsunthorn "FOREST RESTORATION PLANTING IN NORTHERN THAILAND"] {{Webarchive. link. (6 February 2019 in ''Proceedings of the Southeast Asian Moving Workshop on Conservation, Management and Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources'' 25 February-10 March 2001, Thailand)
10. ""The fruits, seeds and seedlings of ''Hovenia dulcis'' Thunb. (Rhamnaceae)." ''Nat. Hist. Bull.''Siam Soc. 44:41–52 1996".