Aleurites cordata

Aleurites cordata, commonly known as the mountain almond or Chinese sumac, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Native to Southeast Asia and parts of Australia, this tree is valued for both its edible and medicinal properties. The plant thrives in light to partial shade with moist soil that is well-drained and can tolerate a range of conditions from sandy to medium-textured soils. It is hardy in zones 9-11 and grows up to 7 meters tall. One distinctive feature of Aleurites cordata is its heart-shaped leaves, which are often used in traditional medicine for their purported anti-inflammatory properties. The tree also produces small, white flowers followed by fruit that can be eaten raw or processed into various culinary applications.