About Ochrosia elliptica Labill.
Ochrosia elliptica Labill., commonly called northern ochrosia, is a small tree that grows to around 6 meters (20 feet) tall. Its leaves are glossy dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath, arranged in whorls of three or four. The leaves attach to stems via petioles measuring 5 to 10 millimeters (0.20 to 0.39 inches) long. Each leaf has between 20 and 25 clearly visible secondary lateral veins, plus one or two intramarginal veins that run parallel to the leaf margin. Tertiary venation is not easily seen on the upper leaf surface. Leaves range in shape from obovate to broadly elliptic, and reach up to 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) long and 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) wide. Small, fragrant yellow-white flowers grow in axillary clusters. After flowering, the tree produces pairs of eye-catching red fruit that measure 5–6 centimeters long by 2–3 centimeters in diameter, resembling elongated tomatoes or a pair of red horns. When wounded, the plant produces a large amount of white sap. Both the fruit and sap of this species are highly poisonous. This plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and as a source of beads. It is cultivated for medicinal purposes in China, and is widely distributed as an ornamental plant. It is valued for its vivid bright red fruits and dense clusters of cream-colored flowers, which are produced year-round on an open, spreading leafy canopy.
