What is "skimmia"

n. Any of the genus (taxlink Skimmia genus noshow=1) of evergreen shrubs and trees.

Skimmia is a genus of four species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Rue family, Rutaceae, all native to warm temperate regions of Asia. The leaves are clustered at the ends of the shoots, simple, lanceolate, 6-21 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, with a smooth margin. The flowers are in dense panicle clusters, each flower small, 6-15 mm diameter, with 4-7 petals. The fruit is red to black, 6-12 mm diameter, a fleshy drupe containing a single seed. All parts of the plant have a pungent aroma when crushed. The botanical name, Skimmia, is a Latinization of shikimi (シキミ, 樒), which is the Japanese name for Illicium religiosum as well as an element in miyama shikimi (ミヤマシキミ, 深山樒), the Japanese name for Skimmia japonica.

• Skimmia anquetilia. Western Himalaya to Afghanistan. Shrub to 2 m.
• Skimmia arborescens. Eastern Himalaya to southeast Asia. Shrub or small tree to 15 m.
• Skimmia japonica. Japan, China. Shrub to 7 m.
• Skimmia laureola. Nepal to Vietnam and China. Shrub or small tree to 13 m.
• Skimmia reevesiana

Skimmias are fed on by aphids, Horse Chestnut Scale, Garden Leafhopper, and Southern Red Mite.