Cleyera japonica

Sakaki

Cleyera japonica, commonly known as Japanese Cleyeria, is a resilient herbaceous perennial valued in traditional medicine. Thriving in moist, shaded habitats, this plant possesses unique bioactive properties. Often utilized for its soothing qualities, it serves as a fascinating subject for studying natural therapeutic compounds and holistic wellness practices.

  • Scientific name: Cleyera japonica
  • Family: Pentaphylacaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Following the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Pentaphylacaceae and resides in the genus Cleyera.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Ericales WCVP
Family Pentaphylacaceae WCVP
Genus Cleyera WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Cleyerra japonica, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese contexts, including Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and the Cantonese variant used in Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is known as 红淡比 or 紅淡比. In German (de), it is called Sperrstrauch, while in Japanese (ja), it is commonly known as サカキ.
Language Common Name Source
zh-hans 红淡比 Wikidata
zh-hant 紅淡比 Wikidata
zh-hk 紅淡比 Wikidata
de Sperrstrauch Wikidata
ja サカキ Wikidata
fr Sakaki Wikidata
ko 비쭈기나무 Wikidata
th ซะกะกิ Wikidata
fi salpapensas Wikidata
ru Сакаки Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, it is widely distributed throughout the South-Central and Southeast provinces. Its presence also extends into the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Moving further east, the species is found naturally across the islands of Japan. Finally, its habitat encompasses the Korean Peninsula, completing its regional distribution.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
China Tibet WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP
Eastern Asia Nansei-shoto WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Cleyeria japonica, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The fresh leaves are often the primary part harvested for their bioactive properties, while the fresh fruits provide a different concentration of medicinal compounds. Additionally, the mature fruits can be studied for their long-term chemical profiles, making all these parts essential for understanding the plant's full therapeutic potential.
Total parts
3
Scientific sources
3
Plant Part Sources Confidence
fruits 1 ★☆☆☆☆
fresh leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆
fresh fruits 1 ★☆☆☆☆