Common Name:

General Information

Meliosma cuneifolia is a deciduous shrub or a small tree that can grow up to 9 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and soiurce of materials. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - central and eastern China.

Habitat

Forests; at elevations from 500 - 3,300 metres[].

Properties

Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Meliosma cuneifolia is not a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -8°c when dormant[].

The plant is moderately hardy and is grown as an ornamental in the open under mild temperate climatical conditions; it is cultivated in N. America and in Europe, amongst others in the Kew Botanic Gardens[].
The pollen ripens and the anther-cells burst while the flower is still in bud, but the pollen is still unable to escape from the anther-cells as these are locked in the cavities of the staminodes. When the bud is fully mature, it explodes at the slightest touch, the stamens snapping backwards and flinging a puff of pollen into the air. When the flower is open, petals and stamens, having done their duty, very soon drop off; hence in a Meliosma panicle almost only buds and passed flowers are found, but very few intact open flowers[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more information is given.

Other Uses

The tree provides a good timber[].

Propagation

Seed -