Editing Phellodendron (section)

==Cultivation and uses==
As an [[ornamental plant]], ''Phellodendron'' is a tree for all seasons. In spring it has yellow flowers, in summer it provides foliage and shade, in fall the leaves turn bright yellow, and the textured bark and winding branches add interest in the winter. The female bears black [[drupe]]s that attract [[bird]]s and other [[wildlife]] through the late fall and winter.

The cork-tree is resistant to drought and [[insect]]s, and it can thrive in a variety of [[soil]]s. It is hardy to [[Hardiness zone 4|zone 4]] and it is easy to maintain, sometimes to the point of being [[invasive species|invasive]]. One drawback is that the drupes fall and scatter, which may be undesirable on a formal [[lawn]].

The bark in some species is thick, resembling that of the [[cork oak]], but is not thick enough for commercial [[cork (material)|cork]] production. It has been used to produce a yellow [[dye]].
[[Image:Phellodendron japonicum.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Phellodendron japonicum'']]

One species, ''[[Phellodendron amurense]]'' (Chinese: 黄柏; pinyin: [[huáng bǎi]]; or 黄檗; pinyin: huáng bò; Russian: Бархат амурский "Barkhat Amurskiy" (Amur Velvet), also бархатное дерево, пробковое дерево), is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. Recently, ''Phellodendron'' has also attracted scientific attention  because of the phytochemicals it produces:
* [[Berberine]] has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
* [[Jatrorrhizine]] may be anti-mutagenic{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
* [[Phellodendrine]] has promise as an [[immune]] suppressant{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
* [[Palmatine]] may be a vasodilator{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

The phytochemical descriptions are included for informational purposes only and not for treatment purposes. The research at this stage is very preliminary. Traditionally, the [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is the principal part of the plant used medicinally, although [[Amur cork tree fruit oil|oil from the fruit]] is also used.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} The species grows in Northern [[China]], and in the [[Khabarovsk]] and [[Primorsky Krai|Primorskiy]] regions of [[Russia]].

Already identified as a significant forest invader in the mid-Atlantic region, ''Phellodendron amurense'' is an emerging species of concern in New England, and is identified as invasive or having invasive tendencies by state and private conservation authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtphel.html |title=TNC Invasive Species Initiative page |access-date=2006-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926134220/http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtphel.html |archive-date=2006-09-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pheamu/pheamu1.html |title=Phellodendron amurense |access-date=2006-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111184527/http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pheamu/pheamu1.html |archive-date=2006-11-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://odonata.edc.uri.edu/cgi-bin/page.cgi/?page=invasive_list |title=Rhode Island Invasive Species Portal: Resources: RI Invasive Species List |access-date=2006-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906195655/http://odonata.edc.uri.edu/cgi-bin/page.cgi/?page=invasive_list |archive-date=2006-09-06 }}</ref> Because the fruit is plentiful and high in sugars, Amur cork-tree attracts birds and mammals which help disperse its seeds. Because of its phytochemical profile and because the seedlings grow thickly, ''Phellodendron'' can out-compete other species. By suppressing reproduction of native hardwoods, Amur cork-tree can come to dominate native forests under favorable conditions. As a relatively new species of concern, its invasion biology and response to control are not well understood.