It is native to Asia, where its range includes China, Japan, Korea, Indochina, Burma, and India (Wikipedia).
This species is a deciduous shrub or tree; usually growing 10 to 20 meters tall, but known to reach 35 meters at times. The leaves are variable in shape, even on one individual. The blades may be lobed or unlobed, but they usually have toothed edges, lightly hairy, pale undersides, and a rough texture. They are up to about 15 to 20 centimeters long. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants (Wikipedia).
This plant has been cultivated in Asia and some Pacific Islands for many centuries for food, fiber, and medicine. The species is used as an ornamental plant. It tolerates disturbance and air pollution, so it has been useful as a landscaping plant on roadsides. It is a pioneer species that easily fills forest clearings, and it has been considered for reforestation efforts (Wikipedia).
