Ochna integerrima (at XTBG, by Zhu Renbin) Ochna integerrima, popularly called the Vietnamese mickey-mouse plant,is a tree species (sometimes shrub) of the family Ochnaceae. The yellow flowers of this plant make it very popular in southern Vietnam. Ochna integerrima is a deciduous shrub or tree that can grow up to 12 metres tall. The short bole can be straight or twisted and is 6 - 16cm in diameter. The taller specimens are generally found near river banks, whilst small shrubs are more common near seashores. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of wood. It is a very popular ornamental garden plant in east Asia, where the cut flowers are seen as a symbol of good luck during the New Year festivities in Vietnam |