臺灣特有亞種，分佈中、北部海拔1000公尺陰濕的山林內。它是臺灣唯一開花結果在葉片上的植物。夏季微小的花朵開在葉片上，吸引螞蟻等昆蟲授粉。秋季紫黑色漿果在綠葉中相當顯眼，能吸引鳥類來取食。花為什麼會長在葉片上呢？根據觀察研究，它的花原本也有花梗，後來花梗跟葉片逐漸癒合在一起，演變成如今的模樣。

Taiwan Helwingia is an endemic subspecies to Taiwan and distributed in dark and humid areas in mountains and forests at an altitude of 1,000 meters in the central and northern Taiwan. It is the only plant in Taiwan that bears flowers and fruits on the leaves. In summer, the tiny flowers bloom on the leaf surface, attracting insects such as ants to pollinate. The purple-black berries in autumn are conspicuous among green leaves and attract birds to eat. Why do the flowers grow on the leaves? According to observation and research, the flower originally had a pedicel, but the pedicel and leaves have gradually grown together and evolved into what it is today.

青莢葉屬落葉灌木。臺灣青莢葉為青莢葉的亞種，臺灣特有。嫩枝綠色或帶紫色，具有多數分枝，小枝細長。葉互生，長橢圓形或長橢圓狀卵形，先端漸尖，基部楔形或漸狹，銳鋸齒緣，紙質或厚紙質。雌雄異株。花小，不顯著，綠色或黃綠色，常與葉同時長出，而生長於幼葉的中肋上；雄花常5~7枚一叢；雌花通常1~3枚，著生於中肋上；花期3~5月。果為漿果狀核果，球形，成熟時呈黑紫色。

The deciduous shrub of the genus Helwingia is a subspecies to Helwingia japonica and endemic to Taiwan. Shoots green or purplish, much bifurcated, branchlets slender. Leaves alternate, oblong or oblong-ovate, apex acuminate, base wedge-shaped or tapering, sharply serrated on the margin, papery or thick papery. Dioecious. Flowers small and inconspicuous, green or yellow-green, often occurring at the same time as the leaves, borne on the midribs of leaflets; male flowers usually 5-7 in a clump while female ones 1-3 borne on midribs. Flowering from March to May. The fruit is a berry-like drupe, spherical, black-purple when ripe.

喜冷涼潮濕和半遮蔭環境。介質須富含有機質且排水良好。種子或扦插繁殖。

The plant prefers cold, moist and partial shade environment as well as soils rich in organic matter and well drained. Seed or cutting propagation.

葉上開花的特殊性，適合於植物園等推廣教育地點種植。嫩葉可食，根、葉及果實可入藥。

Valued for the unique epiphyllous flowers, the plant is suitable to be planted in ecological education sites such as botanical gardens. The young leaves are edible, and the roots, leaves and fruits can be used as medicine.