Where is the origin of Eucommia ulmoides?

Euonymus ulmoides is known as "Chinese rubber tree", but Euonymus ulmoides actually has nothing to do with rubber tree, so what is Euonymus ulmoides? Where is the place of origin of Euonymus ulmoides?

1. What is Euonymus?

Euonymus is a deciduous tree belonging to Euonymus family and Euonymus genus. The height of the plant is 20 m and the diameter at breast height is about 50 cm.

Bark grayish brown, rough, rubbery, broken open with many filaments; leaves elliptic, ovate or oblong, thinly leathery, 6-15 cm long and 3.5-6.5 cm wide; peanut at base of current year branch, male flower without perianth; pedicel ca. 3 mm, glabrous, bracts obovate-spatulate, 6-8 mm long, rounded at tip, margin lashes, caducous; nut centrally located, slightly raised, ovary stalk 2-3 mm long, articulated at junction with fruiting stalk.

Euonymus ulmoides also has medicinal value. In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried bark of Euonymus ulmoides can treat lumbago and leg pain caused by kidney-yang deficiency or weakness, fetal instability caused by liver-qi deficiency, scrotal wet itching and other diseases.

II. Origin of Euonymus ulmoides

Euonymus ulmoides is mainly produced in Zhangjiajie, which is planted all over China, distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, Henan (Xichuan), Anhui, Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan.

Because Euonymus likes warm and humid climate and sunny environment, it can also be cold-resistant and can grow in most parts of China. However, due to the special geographical environment of Zhangjiajie, it has become the largest wild Euonymus production area in the world so far.

Zhangjiajie is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province, China. It is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, in the middle and upper reaches of Lishui River, in the hinterland of Wuling Mountain Range, located at 30° N latitude, belonging to the prototype monsoon humid climate of middle subtropical mountains, with a total area of 9518 square kilometers. It is one of the most important tourist cities in China.

In September 1982, Zhangjiajie became China's first national forest park; in August 1988, Wulingyuan was listed in the second batch of 40 key scenic spots; in 1992, Wulingyuan Natural Scenic Spot, composed of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxiyu Scenic Spot and Tianzishan Scenic Spot, was listed in the World Natural Heritage List by UNESCO.