Schisandra, themagnolia vines, is agenus of twining shrubs that generally climb on other vegetation. Various authors have included the plants in theIlliciaceae[3]
Schisandra (also spelledSchizandra) is native to Asia and North America, with acenter of diversity in China.[2][4][5]
Some species are commonly grown in gardens as ornamentals. It is a hardydeciduousclimber which thrives in almost any kind of soil; its preferred position is on a sheltered, shady wall. It may bepropagated bycuttings of half-matured shoots in August.
Despite its common name "magnolia vine",Schisandra is not closely related to the truemagnolias.
Its dried fruit is sometimes used medicinally. In China, theberries ofS. chinensis are given the namewǔwèizǐ (五味子; 'five flavor fruit') because they possess all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. Intraditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin health, combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.[6]
^Hutchinson, J. 1973. The Families of Flowering Plants, ed. 3. Oxford. Pp. 161-162. Smith, A. C. 1947. The families Illiciaceae and Schisandraceae. Sargentia 7: 1-224.
^Panossian A., Wikman G. Pharmacology ofSchisandra chinensis Bail.: An overview of Russian research and uses in medicine .Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol 118/2 pp 183-212.doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.04.020
