Moon Bud Tree

Trees: Volume 34

Illustrated Investigation of Plant Names and Realities

Page 3

Moon Bud Tree

Original: Yueyashu. Literally "Moon Bud Tree." While the text here uses Yueya, the previous page and common historical variations often refer to it as the Chengyashu or "Weighing-Scale Sprout Tree." Botanically, these names are associated with the Euonymus bungeanus (Winterberry Euonymus) or Mallotus repandus.

The Herbal for Famine Relief Original: Jiuhuang Bencao. A famous Ming Dynasty botanical work by Prince Zhu Xiao (1406) providing survival instructions for foraging during times of food scarcity. states that the Moon Bud Tree grows in the mountains and wilderness of Hui County A region in northern Henan Province, China, noted in historical records for its rich botanical diversity..

The branches and stems of this tree resemble those of the Pagoda Tree Huai (Sophora japonica); a common and culturally significant deciduous tree in China. The leaves on the branches are similar to those of the Evergreen Holly Dongqing (Ilex species); a group of trees known for their leathery, year-round green leaves, though they are slightly longer.

The tree produces white flowers and bears seeds that are greenish-white in color.

The leaves have a sweet taste. To prepare them as food:

• Gather the tender leaves.
• Blanch zha; a traditional cooking method of briefly boiling wild greens to remove bitterness or toxins and soften the texture them until they are thoroughly cooked.
• Rinse them clean with fresh water.
• Season with oil and salt to eat.