About Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S.Y.Hu
Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 2m tall and forms clusters. Its winter buds and twigs are oblong, with a pointed tip, having 5 - 12 scales. The axillary buds are similar to the lateral buds, measuring 4 - 7mm in length. The twigs are green. The leaf scars are crescent - shaped. The leaves are alternate, oblong, elliptical, or oblong - ovate, with an acuminate tip, cuneate or sub - cordate base, sized 3 - 7cm × 2 - 3.5cm. They have serrate double teeth, a hairless surface with sunken veins, and protruding veins with hairs on the underside. The petiole is 5 - 15mm long, and the stipules are narrow, long, and fall off early. The flowers are hermaphroditic, 30 - 40mm in diameter, yellow, blooming at the end of lateral branches like the leaves. The pedicels are 2cm long. The calyx lobes are ovate - acuminate, hairless with fine serrations. There are 5 petals, ovate - orbicular. There are many stamens, similar in length to the pistil. The fruit and seed have 5 (occasionally 8) carpels. The fruit is black - brown within the persistent calyx. It flowers from late April to early June and fruits in September. It is distributed in southern and central China, southern Hokkaido to Kyushu in Japan, and is cultivated near villages or temples south of Gyeonggi - do, excluding Gangwon - do. Ecologically, it grows well in moist areas but is weak in the shade. It is commonly used for ornamental purposes.
