台湾が原産です。わが国へは江戸時代のはじめに渡来しました。高さは3メートルほどになり、葉は奇数羽状複葉で「ひいらぎ」に似ています。3月から4月ごろ、茎頂から総状花序を数個だし黄色い花を咲かせます。果実は液果で、6月から7月に黒紫色に熟し粉白を帯びます。台湾華語では「十大功勞」、中国語では「台湾十大功勞(tai wan shi da gong lao)」と呼ばれます。
メギ科ヒイラギナンテン属の常緑低木で、学名は Mahonia japonica (syn. Berberis japonica)。英名は Japanese mahonia。
The Japanese mahonia (Mahonia japonica) belongs to Berberidaceae (the Barberry family). It is a small evergreen tree that is native to Taiwan. This tree was introduced into Japan in the early Edo period (1603-1868). It can reach about 3 m in height. Leaves are odd-pinnately compound, looking like "Holly". March to April, several racemes with yellow flowers are seen on the top ofstems. Fruits are berries and ripen blackish-purple with powdery white in June and July. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "十大功勞" and "台湾十大功勞" (tai wan shi da gong lao) in Chinese.