Edible: Leaves - tea
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-12 m tall. It is densely hairy. The leaf stalk is 10 mm long. The leaf blade is oval and 7-11 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge towards the tip. The leaf tapers to the tip. There are 7-9 side veins each side of the main vein. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are small (2 mm) but the flowering stalk is 2-4 cm long. The flowers are white. The fruit is round and about 3 mm across.
A tropical plant. It grows in sparse broad-leaved forests and shrubby areas in damp places between 200-1400 m altitude in S China. In Vietnam in mountainous areas and along roads. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Maesa shrub, Don nem, Ji yu dan, Kayu nasi
Synonyms:
Dartus perlarius Loureiro;
Maesa sinensis A. DC.;
Maesa tonkinensis Mez.;