Shan Zhu Yu

Cornus officinalis is a deciduous small tree or large shrub in the Cornaceae, native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea and Japan, where it grows in mixed forests and on woodland margins at moderate elevations. Plants reach 4-10 m tall, with several spreading stems arising from the base and exfoliating pale brown to greyish bark. The opposite, ovate to elliptic leaves are 5-12 cm long with entire margins, three to seven pairs of arching lateral veins and tufts of pale hairs in the vein axils beneath, turning purplish-red in autumn. In late winter to early spring, before the leaves expand, the tree produces dense umbel-like clusters of small, bright yellow, four-petalled flowers along the bare twigs. These are followed by ellipsoid, glossy scarlet drupes 1.2-1.8 cm long, each enclosing a single hard stone. The fleshy fruit pulp, slightly sour and astringent, is the medicinal part.