About Orixa japonica Thunb.
Orixa japonica, commonly known as East Asian orixa or Japanese orixa, is a deciduous shrub that reaches 3 metres (10 ft) in height, with an equal spread. It is native to China, Japan, and South Korea, where it grows on forested, sunny slopes at elevations between 500 and 1300 m. A recent scientific study has discovered that this plant contains previously unidentified alkaloids that may be effective against Plasmodium falciparum, one of the protozoan species that cause malaria in humans. This species has an unusual, distinctive leaf arrangement pattern. Starting from the oldest leaf, the angle between each subsequent leaf follows the repeating sequence: 180 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees.
