Callicarpa rubella

Lindl.

Soh shun, Chinese beauty berry

LamiaceaeLeavesRootsBark/Sap

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, ? edible or wrapping?, Bark - masticatory, Root

The roots are eaten. The leaves may have a wrapping use.

Where to Find It

It is a subtropical plant. It grows naturally in tropical and subtropical Asia. It needs a warm location. In southern China it grows between 100-3,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Asia, Australia, Britain, China*, Europe, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, Belarus, Switzerland, China, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malta, Maldives, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A compact semi-deciduous shrub. The stems are 2.7 m long. They arch over. The leaves are pale yellowish-green. They are 12 cm long. The flowers are small and pink. The fruit are deep purple berries. They remain on the plant for a long time.

How to Grow

Plants are grown from seeds.

Propagation: Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 18°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10cm long in a frame. High percentage. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth with a heel.

Medicinal Uses

The roots of the plant have been used in Indian folk medicine to treat tumors in the large intestine.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Callicarpa rubella is a species of beautyberry native to Southeast Asia. It is a shrub that produces pink or purple flowers followed by dark-purple berries. The berries are actually drupes. It is grown in gardens as an ornamental plant. The fruit attracts wildlife such as birds.

Notes

There are about 140-150 Callicarpa species. Most are in the tropics and subtropics. Previously in the Verbenaceae family.

Names & Synonyms

Bonmala, Gopura esing, Ja-lang-kwai

References (9)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 194
Bot. Reg. 11: t. 883. 1825
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 283
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 157
Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 104
Patiri, B. & Borah, A., 2007, Wild Edible Plants of Assam. Geethaki Publishers. p 98
Pegu, R., et al, 2013, Ethnobotanical study of Wild Edible Plants in Poba Reserved Forest, Assam, India. Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences 1(3):1-10
Sawian, J. T., et al, 2007, Wild edible plants of Meghalaya, North-east India. Natural Product Radiance Vol. 6(5): p 414
Rao, R.R. & Neogi, B., 1980, Observation on the Ethnobotany of the Khasi and Garo tribes in Meghalaya (India). J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 1 pp 157-162