How to identify wintersweet

1. Blades

The leaves of Nadong jasmine are leathery, alternate, elliptical or ovate to obovate, 4-10 cm long, with acuminate or acute apex, cuneate to nearly semicircular base, serrated edges, dark green on the front, lighter in color on the back, and glabrous. The petioles are thick and short, with soft hairs or no hair.

2. Flowers

Winter resistant flowers grow solitary or in groups of 2 to 3 in leaf axils or branch tips. There are 5 to 7 petals, which are pink or bright red in color, with notches or depressions at the tip and a tubular shape at the base. The stamens are relatively developed, with more than 100 in number, the filaments are white and the anthers are golden yellow.

3. Seeds

The capsule of Naidong is round and has a woody shell. When mature, the capsule will naturally split open to release the seeds, which are dark brown or light brown, nearly spherical or become polygonal after being squeezed against each other, and have hard keratin.