Details of Medicinal Plants

Dog Wood Tree

Cornus officinalis Siebold et Zucc. Cornaceae

This species grows in China. It is a deciduous shrub 3 to 4 meters high. It produces umbels of yellow cruciform flowers in early spring. They are used for the Japanese flower arrangement known as "ikebana". The shrub carries red fruits in late autumn. The fruit is called "aki-sango" (= meaning autumn coral).

Part used: pulp of pseudocarp
Medicinal use: nourishing tonic
Main component: loganin

The red pseudocarps are mature receptacles and the parts thought of as seeds are the fruits.

The name of the herbal medicine is "Cornus Fruit".