China tree - China tree

A deciduous tall tree of the Meliaceae family (APG classification: Meliaceae). It grows to 6-8 meters tall. It has a thick trunk, wide branches that branch out in all four directions, and odd-pinnate compound leaves that grow somewhat densely and alternately near the ends of the branches. The leaflets further grow to 5-7 odd-pinnate compound leaves, and the final leaflet has blunt sawtooth, is egg-elliptical, sharply pointed at the tip, and bluntly pointed at the base. In May and June, large compound cymes grow at the ends of the branches, and small pale purple flowers grow densely. Occasionally, there are white flowers. There are five petals and sepals, 10 stamens, and filaments that are fused together to form a tube, with anthers attached to the edge of the tube. The ovary has five locules, each with two ovules. The drupe is elliptical, 1.7 cm long, smooth and yellow, and remains on the tree long after the leaves have fallen. It grows in forests near the sea, and is found from the western part of Honshu to Okinawa, as well as in mainland China, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Australia. It is often planted as a garden tree, and its wood is also used for building materials, furniture, and musical instruments. In traditional Chinese medicine, the bark is called kurenpi and the fruit is called senrenshi, and is used as an anthelmintic and painkiller. A variety with large fruit, up to 2.5 cm long, is called tosendan and is also cultivated.

The origin of the name "Melia" is unknown. In the past, it was called "Afuchi" (Ouchi) and its flowers were admired, and it is often mentioned in classical literature. The "Melia" used as a fragrant tree, and it is said that "Sandalwood is more fragrant than its futaba," refers to the sandalwood of the Santalaceae family, which is different from this species.

[Kyoshio Furusawa October 16, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

センダン科（APG分類：センダン科）の落葉高木。高さ6～8メートル。幹は太く、枝が広く四方に分かれ、枝先近くに奇数羽状複葉をやや密に互生する。小葉はさらに5～7枚の奇数羽状複葉となり、最終小葉は鈍い鋸歯(きょし)があり、卵状楕円(だえん)形で先は鋭くとがり、基部は鈍くとがる。5～6月、枝先に大形の複集散花序をつけ、小形の淡紫色花を密生する。まれに白色花のものもある。花弁、萼片(がくへん)ともに5枚で雄しべは10本、花糸は合着して筒状となり、筒の縁(へり)に葯(やく)をつける。子房は5室、各室に2個の胚珠(はいしゅ)がある。核果は楕円形、長さ1.7センチメートル、滑らかで黄色、落葉後も長く樹上に残る。海近くの林内に生え、本州の西部から沖縄、および中国大陸、ヒマラヤ地方、東南アジア、南アジア、オーストラリアに分布する。庭木としてよく植えられる。また、材を建材、家具材、楽器材にもする。漢方薬で樹皮を苦楝皮(くれんぴ)、果実を川楝子(せんれんし)とよび、駆虫剤、鎮痛剤などに用いる。果実が大きく、長さ2.5センチメートルにもなる変種をトウセンダンといい、栽培もされる。

　センダンの名の由来は不明である。古くはアフチ（楝(おうち)）といって花を観賞し、古典文学上にしばしば載せられている。「栴檀(せんだん)は双葉より芳し」といわれて香木とするセンダンは、ビャクダン科のビャクダンのことであり、本種とは違う。

［古澤潔夫　2020年10月16日］

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