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{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| color = lightgreen
| name = Idesia polycarpa
| name = ''Idesia polycarpa''
| image = Idesia leaves fruit 041181.jpg
| image = Idesia leaves fruit 041181.jpg
| image_width = 220px
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Idesia polycarpa leaves and fruit
| image_caption = ''Idesia polycarpa'' leaves and fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Salicaceae]] / [[Flacourtiaceae]]
| familia = [[Salicaceae]] / [[Flacourtiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Idesia]]''
| genus = '''''Idesia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carl Maximowicz|Maxim.]]
| species = '''''I. polycarpa'''''
| species = '''''I. polycarpa'''''
| binomial = ''Idesia polycarpa''
| binomial = ''Idesia polycarpa''
}}
}}
'''''Idesia''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Salicaceae]] (formerly placed in the family [[Flacourtiaceae]]), comprising the single species '''''Idesia polycarpa'''''. It is native to eastern [[Asia]] in [[China]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]], and [[Taiwan]].<ref name=foc>Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200145 ''Idesia'' (genus page)], [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200014461 ''Idesia polycarpa'' (species page)]</ref>
It is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]] reaching a height of 8-21 m, with a trunk up to 50 cm diameter with smooth greyish-green [[bark]]. The shoots are greyish-brown, stout, with a thick [[pith]] core. The [[leaf|leaves]] are large, heart-shaped, 8–20 cm long and 7–20 cm broad, with a red 4–30 cm [[petiole (botany)|petiole]] bearing two or more glands; the leaves are dark green above, glaucous below, and have a coarsely serrated margin. The [[flower]]s are small, yellowish green, fragrant, and born in [[panicle]]s 13–30 cm long. It is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]] with male and female flowers on separate trees; the male flowers are 12–16 mm diameter, the female flowers 9 mm diameter. The [[fruit]] is a [[berry]] 5–10 mm diameter, ripening orange to dark purple-red, containing several 2–3 mm brown [[seed]]s, and often persisting until the following spring.<ref name=foc/><ref name=rushforth>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.</ref>
==Cultivation and uses==
The fruit is edible either raw or cooked.<ref>Tanaka, T. (1976). ''Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World''. Keigaku Publishing.</ref>
The species is occasionally grown as an [[ornamental tree]] in other temperate regions including Europe.<ref name=rushforth/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Idesia trunk 041188.jpg|Trunk
Image:Idesia trunk 041188.jpg|Trunk
Image:Idesia leaves 041184.jpg|Leaves
Image:Idesia leaves 041184.jpg|Leaves
Image:Idesia flowers 041187.jpg|Flowers
Image:Idesia flowers 041187.jpg|Flowers
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Idesia fruit 053215.jpg|Fruit
Image:Idesia fruit 053215.jpg|Fruit
</gallery>
</gallery>
