Zhi Ju Zi

Hovenia dulcis, Japanese raisin tree or Zhi Ju Zi, is a deciduous tree in the Rhamnaceae family native to East Asia and growing 10-20 m tall, with a rounded crown and grayish-brown furrowed bark. Leaves are alternate, broadly ovate to elliptic, 8-17 cm long, with three to five prominent veins from a rounded to slightly cordate base and finely serrated margins. Small fragrant greenish-white five-petalled flowers are borne in terminal and axillary cymes in early summer. The distinctive feature is the fleshy, swollen, reddish-brown, contorted fruiting peduncle that ripens sweet and edible; the actual fruit is a small dry three-seeded capsule borne at its tips.