Bodinier’s Beautyberry (scientific name: Callicarpa bodinieri) is a deciduous shrub belonging to the genus Callicarpa in the family Lamiaceae. It grows to about 2 meters high, featuring ovate-oblong to elliptic leaves with finely serrated margins. The undersides are grayish-brown, and both sides are densely dotted with dark red or red fine granular glands. The corolla is purple, and the spherical fruits turn purple when ripe. It flowers from June to July and bears fruit from August to November. This plant is distributed across Chinese regions including Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, and is also found in Vietnam, growing in forests, forest edges, and thickets at altitudes of 200 to 2,300 meters. Not only is Bodinier’s Beautyberry an ornamental plant, but its roots or the whole plant can also be used as medicine to promote menstruation and blood circulation, treating conditions like irregular menstruation, chronic fatigue, leucorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain, and common colds. External application mixed with sesame oil can treat snakebites and erysipelas. Additionally, its chemical composition includes flavonoids, offering certain medicinal value. Its beautiful fruits make it popular for landscaping, courtyard planting, or as potted ornamentals.
