Japanese name: マツグミ（松茱萸） Scientific name:Taxillus kaempferi var. kaempferi
[Overview]
A semi-parasitic evergreen shrub that parasitizes conifers such as Momi and Tsuga.
The plant is about 20–50 cm long.
Young branches are at first densely covered with short brown hairs, but later become hairless.
Leaves are simple and alternate, oblanceolate, 1.5–4 cm long and 0.4–0.9 cm wide.
The leaf tip is rounded, and the leaf base gradually narrows and runs into the petiole.
The leaves are hairless on both sides and entire.
Short cymes emerge from the leaf axils, bearing several red flowers.
The flowers are tubular, 1.5 cm long, with the tip divided into 4 lobes.
The fruit is elliptic-spherical, about 5 mm long, and ripens red.
[Uses]
The fruit is edible and sticky, and children enjoy chewing it like gum.
It is also used as a folk medicine.
[Notes]
The Japanese name derives from the fact that it grows on Matsu and bears fruit like Gumi.
