Korean euodia

Appearance

The Korean euodia is an attractive tree with deciduous glossy pinnate leaves. Tetradium daniellii develops a smooth gray bark that resembles that of a beech tree and grows to a height of 20 metres. The leaves resemble the foliage of an ash tree and are a glossy dark green in summer. In fall there is little color change and leaves tend to drop green to yellow-green. The tree is covered in late July and August with masses of large flat white to gray cluster of small white flowers, particularly valued when few other tree-size plants are flowering. It attracts large numbers of bees and is sought after by beekeepers as a source of late summer honey. The flowers produce clusters of seed that is present from late August through November. The seeds start as bright red capsules that when fully ripe open to expose shiny black buckshot seed as Autumn progresses. The small, red-to-black berries are popular with many birds.

Naming

Synonyms:
Tetradium hupehensis
Euodia hupehensis
Xanthoxylum daniellii

Distribution

Native to Korea and southwestern China.

Uses

An edible oil is obtained from the fruit. Used for cooking or making a hair oil.