Kalonka, near Łódź

Introduced to Poland at the end of XVIII century; invasive plant! Ornamental plant. Edible plant - fruits raw or cooked in pies, jellies, stews, etc., they must be fully ripened for to avoid a bitter taste; seeds raw or cooked. Herbal plant - the bark of the root, trunk and branches is antitussive, astringent, pectoral, sedative, stomachic and tonic; a decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of laryngitis; the root bark has been used as a wash on old sores and ulcers; fruits are astringent and has been used in the treatment of dysentery. Useful plant - a green dye can be obtained from the leaves; a dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruits; the reddish-brown wood is close and straight-grained, light, strong, rather hard, highly shock resistant. In Poland, it is sometimes planted in the undergrowth in pine forests and in mixed coniferous forests to enrich biodiversity and ameliorate soil conditions.