Common Name: Asiatic Sweetleaf

General Information

Symplocos paniculata is a deciduous shrub, occasionally a small tree, with a spreading habit; it can grow around 3 - 6 metres tall and as much wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos

Habitat

Forests and shrubberies; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,700 metres[]. Slopes in mixed forests; at elevations from 800 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Symplocos paniculata, at least forms from the northern parts of its range, is a cold-hardy plan, tolerting winter temperatures that can fall below -15°c for short periods. However, the plant also needs hot summers if it is to thrive, often failing in mild, maritime regions[, ]. The fruits are sometimes spoiled by early autumn frosts[, ].
Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained fertile neutral to acid soil[, , ].
The clusters of white flowers are sweetly fragrant[, 245. 352].
Self-sterile, it needs cross-pollination with a different plant in the same species if seed and fruit are to be produced[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked[]. Used in jams, jellies and sauce[]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The bark is astringent, cooling and tonic[]. It is useful in the treatment of menorrhagia, bowel complaints, eye diseases and ulcers[]. It is also used as a gargle for giving firmness to spongy and bleeding gums[]. The juice of the bark is applied externally to sprains and muscular swellings[].

The leaves are spasmolytic, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic[]. Combined with the juice of a cucumber, they are used in the treatment of diabetes[].
The bark is used as a tonic for preventing abortion. Other uses are the same as those of Symplocos racemosa[].
The water-soluble fraction from the bark has been reported to exhibit antioxytocic activity[].

Agroforestry Uses:

When growing in areas polluted by heavy metals this plant has been shown to concentrate various of these metals in its tissues. It has a potential for use in phytoremediation projects as a means of locking these metals up and helping to restore the fertility of the soil[]
Many Symplocos species, including this one, are bio-accumulators of aluminum, storing the metal especially in their leaves[].

Other Uses

Many species in this genus accumulate aluminium, especially in their leaves and bark. Those species where the leaves turn yellow upon drying contain the largest quantities of aluminiun (up to 4.2% dry weight). Thus many Symplocos species can be used as the source of a yellow dye, and can also be used as a mordant[, , ].
The ashes produced by combustion of the plant can be used as mordant because they contain a high concentration of aluminum[].
The leaves are also a rich source of aluminium. When dried and ground into a powder they can be directly employed as a mordant[, ].
A yellow or red dye is obtained from the leaves and bark[, , , ]. A yellow dye, it is mostly used as a base for red dyes[].

Wood - white, soft to moderately hard. close grained, liable to twist and split when seasoning. Of possible use in turnery[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed requires stratification and is best sown in a cold frame in late winter, it can take 12 months to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in individual pots in a cold frame[, ]. Roots are formed in about 4 weeks. Good percentage[].