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Common Name: Isu Tree

General Information

Distylium racemosum is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Habitat

Evergreen oak forests. Forests at elevations of 1000 - 1300 metres in Fujian, Hainan, Taiwan and Zhejiang Provinces of China[].

Properties

Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sandy soil[]. A lime tolerant plant, but it prefers a neutral to acid moist humus-rich soil[, ]. It prefers to grow under a light woodland canopy[, ].
Plants are hardy at Kew[] but they grow better in the milder areas of Britain[]. They rarely exceed 2 metres in height in cultivation and are slow growing[].
The dormant plant is fairly cold-tolerant, but the young growth in spring is subject to damage by late frosts[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The ashes of the wood are used in glazing porcelain[, ].
Wood - hard, fine-grained, dark brown. A very valuable wood, it is used for small articles, musical instruments etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed may require 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown as soon as possible in a cold frame[]. Germination takes 2 - 3 months or more at 15°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth in a frame[].
Layering in September/early autumn of current years growth if possible. If this is not available then use the previous years growth. Takes 18 months. Good percentage[].