Common Name:

General Information

Eurya acuminata is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to 15 metres tall. The straight bole is short, and sometimes branches almost at the base[, , ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, an adulterant for tea, a green manure and a source of wood. It is grown as a pioneer species in Thailand in reforestation projects[].
Eurya acuminata is widely distributed in Asia, has a wide distribution, large population and thare is an absence of major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Hill forests, especially those of pine; at elevations from 1,500 - 2,400 metres[]. Open places at elevations of 1,000 - 2,800 metres in Nepal[]. Found especially in the clearings of evergreen hill forest in Laos[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects, Cleistogomy
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eurya acuminata is a plant of the subtropical to tropical zones, where it is found at elevations up to 3,000 metres. It can also be grown in warmer parts of the temperate zone in areas where frosts are light and not very common[].
Prefers a moderately fertile free-draining moisture retentive soil in sun or part shade with shelter from cold drying winds[].
A fast-growing plant[].
The plant has an unpleasant, pungent aroma[].
A dioecious species, in general both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required[]. However, there are cases of cleistogomy where seeds are produced without fertilization[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used to adulterate tea (Camellia sinensis)[].

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable[]. They are made into a paste and cooked with a protein food[]. The leaves are a part of traditional food preparation among the ethnic groups of Mizoram[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the leaves is used as a treatment for cholera, typhoid, sore throats, diarrhoea, dysentery and other stomach diseases[, , ].
The leaves are applied as a poultice on skin eruptions and to treat cuts and wounds[, , , ]. The juiced leaves are used to cure itches and scabies[].

A fresh root extract is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].

The plant has shown antioxidant capacities and anticancer and antimicrobial properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The leaves are used as a green manure[]. They are used as an organic fertilizer[].
The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[].

Other Uses

The plant (part not specified) is used to dye threads green[].

The plant (part not specified) is used as a mordant together with Rubia cordifolia[].

The brownish wood is even grained, soft to moderately hard. It has been used as beams in house building, but it splits easily[, , ].
The wood is used mainly as a fuel[]. An excellent fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in a nursery seedbed. When they are 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, 6 - 8cm with a slight heel in individual pots in a frame. High percentage[].

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