Zi Zhu

Zi Zhu is the leaf of Callicarpa formosana (and closely allied species such as C. macrophylla; Lamiaceae, formerly Verbenaceae), a deciduous shrub 1–4 m tall native to southern China, Taiwan and adjacent regions. Branchlets are quadrangular and densely covered with stellate yellowish-grey tomentum. Leaves are opposite, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 8–18 cm long, with serrate margins, an acuminate apex, and undersides densely clothed in stellate hairs and minute yellow glandular dots. Axillary cymes are dense and shortly stalked, bearing many small lilac to pinkish-purple tubular flowers with four short corolla lobes and four exserted stamens. The fruits are small globose drupes about 2 mm in diameter, ripening to a striking violet-purple.