Japan Flora: Small deciduous tree with glabrous, rather thick branches; leaves opposite, the petioles 4-6 cm. long, the axis nearly terete, 15-30 cm. long, the leaflets 7-11, rather thick, narrowly ovate or broadly lanceolate, 4-8 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide，gradually acuminate, rounded to broadly cuneate at base, appressed-serrate, deep green and lustrous on upper side, often white-pubescent on midrib beneath near base, the petiolules 2-8 mm. long; inflorescence a long peduncled broadly pyramidal panicle 8-15 cm. across, many-flowered; flowers pale green, 4-5 mm. across; sepals and petals elliptic, persistent; follicles 1-3, ellipsoidal, arcuately spreading, acute, 1.5-2 cm. long, longitudinally ribbed, the seeds nearly globose, black, shining, about 5 mm. across. May (-June). Thickets and thin woods in lowlands and low mountains;

Honshu (Kanto Distr. and westw.), Shikoku, Kyushu; very common. Korea, Ryukyus, Formosa, and China.

Korea Flora: Deciduous shrub. Height 3m. Winter buds and young shoots: Circular or broadly ovoid, with rounded tips, 2-4 bud scales. Two pseudo-terminal buds larger than lateral buds, 4-7mm long. Branches thick, glabrous, greenish-brown, and round. Leaf scars circular or heart-shaped. Leaves opposite, odd-pinnately compound. Petiole 25cm long. Leaflets 5-11, lanceolate-ovate or ovate, apex acuminate, base broadly cuneate or rounded, size 4-8(11)cm × 2-4(5)cm. Sharp fine serrations present. Upper surface dark green and glabrous, lower surface often with white hairs near the base of the midrib. Petiolules 1cm long. Flowers in erect terminal panicles, 5-5cm wide. Flowers 5mm in diameter, yellowish-green. 5 sepals and 5 petals, 3 stamens, 3-chambered ovary with 3 styles, surrounded by a disc at the base. Fruit and seed in groups of 1-3, curved ellipsoid, apex acute, 15-20mm long, with longitudinal veins. Outer surface reddish, inner surface bright red. Seeds black, glossy, round, 5-6mm in diameter.

Flowering : June

Fruiting : Early September to late October

Distribution: Vietnam, all of China except the western inland, central Honshu to Okinawa in Japan; coastal Hwanghae-do, Jeollanamdo, and  Gyeongsangnamdo in Korea

Ecological characteristics: Light-demanding, grows in well-lit areas. Found in valleys or on sloping ridges, thrives in moist soil. Grows rapidly in forest gaps, with strong sprouting ability.