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Poisonous Elder
Coriaria japonica
ドクウツギ
A deciduous shrub endemic to Japan and one of Japan's three most poisonous plants. The glossy black ripe fruits appear sweet but contain coriamyrtin, a potent toxin that can be fatal if ingested.
Identification Points
- ✓Fruits ripen glossy black but contain the deadly toxin coriamyrtin
- ✓Distinctive branching with opposite, pinnately arranged leaves
- ✓Grows in disturbed habitats such as stream banks and landslide areas
Habitat
Along mountain streams, landslide sites, and open montane areas
Season
June–July (fruits)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Shrub
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf type
Simple
Petal count
Many
Stipules
Present
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
5
Phylogenetic Positionドクウツギ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Cucurbitales > Coriariaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (about 70–60 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Coriariaceae is a monotypic (or near-monotypic) family with a disjunct circum-Pacific distribution, representing an ancient lineage.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification