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The "Shimayama-hihatsu" (Antidesma pentandrum) belongs to Euphorbiaceae (the Spurge family). It is an annual herb that is native from Yonaguni Island of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan south to Taiwan and the Philippines. t grows mainly in limestone areas and is about 3 m high. The leaves are shiny and bear fruit from spring to fall. The tufted fruits change from yellowish green to pink and turn black-purple when ripe. This fruit has a strong astringency and acidity, so it is used as a material for fruit liquor. By the way, "Hihatsu" is the fruit of the Piperaceae family. In Okinawa, it is also called "Bibashi" or "Bibartu", and it is the long pepper (Pippali in Sanskrit) that appears in Okinawan cuisine. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "枯里珍".
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