Okinawa Needlewood Tree

Species information

Scientific name: Schima wallichii ssp. 
Japanese name: イジュ
Chinese name: 西南木荷、紅木荷
English name: Okinawa needlewood tree
Origin: This species is widely distributed in Southeast Asia and in Japan, it can be found in the Ryukyu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands.

Ecology and description

Okinawa needlewood tree is mainly found in the Ogasawara Islands and the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. The appearance slightly varies between these regions, and some scholars suggest that the Ryukyu Islands may have different subspecies, though there is no consensus on classification in different regions yet.

Okinawa needlewood tree is one of the dominant tree species in the non-limestone forests of the Ryukyu Islands. During the rainy season, the tree is adorned with white blossoms. The tree bark contains saponin, and in the past, people in Okinawa used powder made from the bark as fish poison to catch fish.

In February and March, the red new leaves of Okinawa needlewood tree are also very conspicuous and easily identifiable.

References:
Mountain Goat Encyclopedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ヒメツバキ/
National Museum of Nature and Science – Plant Database of the Ryukyus

Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates

During the rainy season in May and June, the flowers of Okinawa needlewood tree can be seen blooming in various parts of northern and central Okinawa.

Folksong 【Benoki-bushi】

The beautiful white flowers of the needlewood are also described in Okinawa’s traditional folksong 【Benoki-bushi】: