POS LB 242 12

This particular species is found in China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam. These trees are often cultivated for their attractive lobed leaves, which turn a glorious red in autumn. The leaves are fed to silkworms to produce a particular kind of silk. The female flowers are arranged in groups to form ball-like inflorescences. These develop into fruit heads comprising many fruits fused to each other; they resemble prickly balls like the one in this image.