Iju

Schima liukiuensis

Flower name
Iju
Scientific name
Schima liukiuensis
Alias伊集, Schima liukiuensis
Place of originOkinawa and the Amami Islands
Place of floweringSpecific area
Flowering seasonApril, May

What is Iju

Iju (Scientific name: Schima liukiuensis) is native to Okinawa and the Amami Islands, and is an evergreen tree in the family Theaceae, genus Schima. New shoots are red. The leaves are oblong, glossy, and clustered at the ends of branches. In spring, it produces white five-petaled flowers that resemble tea flowers. The stamens are yellow and numerous. The fruit is produced in autumn, and when ripe it splits into five pieces. In the fall, the material is hard and resistant to termites, so it is used for building materials. The powdered bark is used as fish poison and dye.

Common name: Iju , Scientific name: Schima liukiuensis, Place of origin: Okinawa/Amami Islands, endemic to Japan, Type of life：evergreen broad-leaved tall tree, bark color： brown, tree height：10-20 m, leaf margin： serrate, leaf inflorescence： alternate, Leaf shape: oblong, flower color: white, flower diameter: 3 to 4 cm, flowering season: April to May, Fruit season: October, Fruit diameter: 2 cm, Fruit type: capsule, Uses: fish poisoning, garden tree, park tree, medicinal, edible, building material.