Scientific Name : Schima superba Gardner & Champ.
Common Name : Schima, Chinese Gugertree
Chinese Name : 木荷, 荷樹
Family : THEACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species
| Origins | South China, and coastal provinces in Southeast China. It also has distribution in Japan. |
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| Ecology | Schima not only is a native species in Hong Kong, but also one of the common plants in fire-resistant woods. |
| Applications | Schima is a good fire-resistant tree. Its leathery leaves contain high concentrations of flame-suppressing compounds, such as water, ash and lignin, that can effectively resist the fire. Even if its leaves get burnt, the tree itself will not die and has the ability to emerge new leaves. Moreover, Schima grows rapidly when young and can develop a dense and wide-spreading canopy which becomes an enclosed forest. It forms a “wall” that blocks air currents and prevents the spread of fire in the canopy layer. It also performs as a “cover”, creating a humid, low-temperature and low-wind-speed microclimate under the canopy, prevents the spread of fire on the ground. Ascribed by its toxicity, Schima is applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine based on the concept of “Like Cures Like (以毒攻毒)”. The skin of its roots exhibits the functions of counteracting toxic substances and detumescence. The leaves can detoxify and cure boils, as well as treat ecthyma and unknown pyogenic infections, etc. However, it is for external use only. Consultation from Chinese medicine practitioners should be made before usage. |
| Toxicity | The bark and root skin of the Schima are poisonous. Since its bark can cause skin allergies, direct contact should be avoided. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
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| Height | To 20 m. |
| Stems | Bark of trunk dark grey or greyish brown, with longitudinal cracks. |
| Leaves | Elliptic to oblong-elliptic, apex acuminate, margin undulate, crenate, leathery to thinly leathery. Shiny when dry adaxially. |
| Flowers | White. Flowers axillary, usually in cluster of 4 to 8 on branch apex. Petals 5, obovate. Stamens many, yellow. |
| Fruits | Capsule subglobose, woody, pubescent. Seeds expose after the fruit ruptured into five valves. |
| Seeds | Pale brown, reniform, flattened, narrowly winged. |
| Flowering period | June to August in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | October to December in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=7705
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Schima superba Gardner & Champion
― Plants of the World Online : Schima superba Gardner & Champ.