中国南部の長江流域が原産です。ニュージーランドに移入されて改良が進められました。蔓性で長さは4〜5メートルになり、円形または広卵形の葉が互生します。雌雄異株で、5月から6月ごろ、葉腋に芳香のある白い花を下向きに咲かせます。果実は液果で褐色の毛に被われ、11月ごろに熟します。ハイワード種がおもに栽培されますが、酸味が強く、収穫後2〜3週間の追熟が必要です。和名では「おにまたたび(鬼木天蓼)」とか「しなさるなし(支那猿梨)」と呼ばれます。写真中7の品種は「香緑(こうりょく)」。中国語では「中華猕猴桃(zhong hua mi hou tao)」と呼ばれます。
The kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) belongs to Actinidiaceae (the Kiwi fruit family). It is a deciduous woody vine that is native to the Yangtze River basin in southern China. This vine was introduced into New Zealand, where it has been improved. The vine is woody and can reach 4-5 m long. The leaves are round to broad ovate and alternate. The kiwi fruit is dioecious. Fragrant white flowers bloom on the axiles in May to June. The fruits are berries covered with brown fuzz that ripen in November. The cultivated variety "Hayward" is commonly planted, though its fruit has a strong acidic taste and needs to be force-ripened for 2-3 weeks. (edit by Greg Brockelbank)
In Chinese, it is called "中華猕猴桃" (zhong hua mi hou tao).