Euonymus cochinchinensis
The Indo-China euonymus is an evergreen shrub with hard, resilient wood that serves as an important traditional material for tool-making among the Tao people. Due to its high hardness, the wood is crafted into handles for axes used in daily labor and production. Additionally, the wood of the Indo-China euonymus is utilized in the construction of the Tao people's most representative traditional fishing boats, serving as the paddle bracket to support the movement of the paddles.
Tao women often wear exquisite hats during important ceremonies and rituals. The wood of the Indo-China euonymus is finely carved to create unique decorations for these hats. These decorations usually feature traditional totems such as human figures and ship eyes. They are not only beautiful, but also embody the history, beliefs, and social norms of the tribe, rich in cultural significance. They are an important vehicle for the transmission of Tao culture.
The Indo-China euonynms is widely distributed throughout the Mainland Southeast Asia to the Philippines. In Taiwan, the native populations are only found on Orchid island. This evergreen shrub or small tree exhibits remarkable resilience in the natural environment of Orchid island and is closely linked to the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous Tao people on the island.
Although the distribution of the Indo-China euonynms in the wild in Taiwan is very limited, its thick leathery leaves and colorful spherical red split fruits are quite ornamental, making it suitable as a fruit-bearing and landscape plant. The museum has planted it along the trail in the Orchid Island Area of the Botanical Garden, and whenever the flowers bloom or the fruits ripen and split open, people often gather to take photos of the Indo-China euonynms.