金莲木 jin lian mu

Elaeocarpus integerrimus Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 338. 1790 ["integerrima"]; Ochna harmandii Lecomte.

Small trees or shrubs, 2-7 m tall, 6-16 cm d.b.h., deciduous. Branchlets gray-brown, glabrous. Stipules 2-7 mm, soon deciduous; petiole 2-5 mm; leaf blade elliptical, obovate-oblong, or obovate-lanceolate, 7-19 × 3-5.5 cm, base broadly cuneate, margin serrate, apex acute or obtuse; midvein prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescence corymbose, ca. 4 cm, on short branchlets. Flowers ca. 3 cm in diam., on 1.5-3 cm pedicels.
Sepals oblong, 1-1.4 cm, apex obtuse, reflexed during anthesis, red in fruit. Petals 5(or 7), ovate, 1.3-2 cm, apex obtuse or rounded. Stamens 3-whorled, 0.9-1.2 cm; filaments 5-8 mm. Ovary 10-12-locular; style terete; stigma slightly lobed. Drupes 10-12 × 6-7 mm, base slightly curved, apex obtuse. Fl. Mar-Apr, fr. May-Jun.

Rocky valley sides, wet areas by streams; 300-1400 m. SW Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam].

This species is found mainly in deciduous forests in SE Asia. The root can be used as a cathartic for treating worms and as a medicine for treating lymphatic disorders. It is also grown for decorative purposes.