Zhu Zhi

Zhu Zhi

　　Morphological Characteristics

　　　　Deciduous tree, up to 20 meters tall, with a breast height diameter of 50 cm. Crown is spherical. Bark is dark gray, branches have lamellar pith, and all broken parts of the tree exude silvery-white rubbery threads. Twigs are smooth, without terminal buds. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic, 7–14 cm long, serrated, with pinnate veins; veins on the surface of older leaves are sunken, and there are no stipules. Flowers are unisexual, blooming from April to May, dioecious, without perianth, borne within bract-like leaves at the base of young shoots, appearing either with or before the leaves. Winged fruits are flat, oblong, with two lobes at the apex, containing one seed each. Fruiting period is October to November.

　　　　Belongs to the genus Eucommia of the family Eucommiaceae; this family contains only one genus and one species. It is endemic to China.

　　Growth Habits

　　　　Grows in mountain forests or is cultivated. Distributed in central and southern regions along the Yangtze River, as well as in provinces such as Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu, where it is also cultivated.

　　　　Prefers sunny locations and mild, moist climates, is cold-resistant, and not demanding on soil types; can be planted on hillsides, plains, or even in fragmented land or around settlements.

　　　　The tender leaves of this plant are also used medicinally, detailed separately; in addition, the part of the eucommia commonly consumed is the phloem of the tree.