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Orixa japonica - Thunb.

Author	Thunb.	Botanical references	11, 58, 200
Family	Rutaceae	Genus	Orixa
Synonyms	Celastrus japonica - (Thunb.)K.Koch. Euodia ramiflora - A.Gray.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat	Woods, scrub and on cliffs, to 1300 metres[184].
Edibility Rating	2 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	1 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Shrub growing to 3m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Deep Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves.

Young leaves cooked[105, 177]. Aromatic with a pleasant spicy odour[11].

Medicinal Uses

Febrifuge.

The plant is febrifuge[218].

Other Uses

Hedge.

The plant can be grown as a hedge[11]. It forms a dense light green barrier within 5 years[200].

Scented Plants

Leaves: Crushed

The leaves have a foetid smell. They are distincly and pleasantly aromatic according to another report. The bruised leaves relaease an orange-like pungency[245]

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any fertile soil in sun or part shade[182, 200]. Survives in fairly dry shady conditions[200]. The leaves have a foetid smell[184]. They are distinctly and pleasantly aromatic according to another report[182] whilst another says that they release an orange-like pungency when pressed[245]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[184]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[182].

Propagation

Seed - one report suggests sowing the seed outdoors in the spring[200]. If seed is in short supply we would recommend sowing it in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for 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, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[78]. Fair percentage[78]. Root cuttings, 3cm long, December in a greenhouse. High percentage[78]. Removal of self-layered branches at any time in the dormant season[200].

Links

Permaculture.info Details of this plant in the Permaculture.info project, a community plant and permaculture database.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

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