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Asiatic Sweetleaf
Symplocos sawafutagi
サワフタギ
A deciduous shrub to small tree growing along mountain streams and forest edges. In early summer, white florets bloom densely on branches; in autumn, it bears attractive indigo-blue fruits that are popular with birds.
Identification Points
- ✓White florets densely clustered at branch tips in early summer (spike-like)
- ✓Spherical indigo to dark blue fruits in autumn
- ✓Leaves alternate, elliptic with fine serrations
Habitat
Along mountain streams and forest edges
Season
May–June (flowers), September–October (fruit)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf shape
Round
Habitat
Mountain
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Stipules
Absent
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Stamen count
3-4
Phylogenetic Positionハイノキ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Ericales > Symplocaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 50 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Symplocaceae is a monophyletic group within Ericales that diversified from East Asia to Southeast Asia.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification