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THUYA ORIENTALIS Linnaeus
Plate 1.
\
CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
By
Woon Young Chun, B.S.F., M.F.
Professor of Dendrology,
College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Nanking.
ILLUSTRATED WITH 100 PLATES
PRINTED BY THE COMMERCIAL Press, Lp,
PLATES EXECUTED BY SHANGHAI
Art ENGRAVING Co.
£3601
DEDICATED
TO
A. §. C.
PREFACE
So far as the author is aware, this is the first book on the common,
important Chinese trees that has been written in any language.
Although the literature of Chinese flora is rather extensive, it is scattered
through numerous publications, issued in many different languages,
and as few of the standard botanical works are available in China, it has
been next to impossible to identify even the commoner plants around us.
This manual aims to fill, in a measure, the need that has been felt for
some time for a handy volume on Chinese trees. With the help of this
book, even those with only a meager knowledge of botany will be able to
identify a large number of the trees likely to be encountered, and at the
same time to learn something of their characteristics and uses in so far
as these are known. This manual is also designed as a textbook for use
in Middle Schools and Colleges, particularly in the institutions where
agricultural sciences are emphasized. The manuscript has been subjected
to actual test of the classroom, during the past year, at the College of
Agriculture and Forestry of thie University of Nanking.
Obviously, in a work of this scope, it is impossible to describe every
arborescent species found in this country. Only a small proportion of
the species of Chinese trees are here described. A more comprehensive
work remains for development in the future. The limits of the present
volume admit the description, in most cases, of only one or two repre-
sentative species in each genus and a bare enumeration of others of minor
importance. On this account, the family and generic characters are given
in some detail, in order to enable students to place a tree not treated in
this work at least in the proper family and genus. It will be noted that
following the description of families of more than one genus, there is a
key to the genera, but following the description of the genus there is
no key to the species. This omission is justified by two considerations.
In the first place, the number of species is not sufficiently inclusive to
render a key of any considerable value, and, in the second place, in the
instances where the species treated under any one genus are sufficiently
comprehensive, as under the oaks, an opportunity is given the students to
acquire practice in making keys themselves.
Throughout this book, the specific names of the plants are uniformly
written without capitals in accordance with the procedure prevailing in
zoology, and with some progressive botanists, as those of the United
States National Herbarium, but contrary to the rule of nomenelature
II PREFACE
adopted by botanists at the Vienna Congress. In ordinary botanical
nomenclature, the specific name when derived from a person must be
capitalized as a special mark of honor to the person whose name the
plant bears. The introduction of this extraneous element into the name
of a plant serves no-legitimate purpose, but rather adds confusion and
complexity. For the sake of clarity and simplicity, it seems best to
disregard a useless rule. It is hoped that the younger botanists in China,
collectively, will have sufficient independence to introduce the change
which is manifestly advantageous, and which will, undoubtedly, become
the universal practice of the future.
The author has taken considerable pains to eliminate inaccuracies as
‘far as possible, but no doubt, many defects and errors have been over-
looked, and any one who points them out or who is willing to communi-
cate additional notes and information on the range, habits, and uses of
any of the trees will not only earn the gratitude of the author but at the
same time advance the status of Chinese dendrology.
The material for this book was compiled at the Arnold Arboretum
of Harvard University in the United States of America. To the Director
of the Arnold Arboretum, Professor C. 8S. Sargent, the author offers his
sincere thanks for placing the splendid facilities of that institution at his
disposal. The Arboretum contains a remarkable collection of the hardy
Chinese trees and shrubs adapted to a northern climate, as well as an
herbarium of Chinese woody plants which is, perhaps, unsurpassed by
that of any other institution in the world. The descriptions of the trees
in this work are based, in nearly every case, on the original Latin or
other description, supplemented by notes by various authors (particularly
those of Mr. E. H. Wilson), and by comparison with herbarium
material and studies of living trees. The drawings were made from
herbarium specimens and from living plants when obtainable, except a
few that were redrawn from published works, in which case, the source is
indicated on the plates.
The author is greatly indebted to Miss Mary I. Bash, formerly of
Seattle, Washington, and to Mr. Goey Park Jung, Professor of Entomology
of the Government Southeastern University at Nanking, for help with the
inking of some of the drawings. Finally the author must acknowledge a
great debt of gratitude to his former teacher, Professor J, G. Jack of
Harvard University. Without his suggestions this book, crude as it is,
would not have been written. It must be understood, the author is alone
responsible for the views therein expressed.
Shanghai, August 22nd, 1921.
31.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
(The Mlustrations are half life size)
Thuja orientalis ..
Ginkgo biloba
Larix potanini
Pseudolarix kaempferi ..
Pinus armandi
Picea asperata
Tsuga chinensis ..
Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria fortunei
Abies delavayi
Cunninghamia lanceolata
Cupressus torulosa
Taxus cuspidata..
Salix babylonica..
Salix matsudana..
Populus simonii..
Populus lasiocarpa
Myrica rubra
Juglans regia
Hicoria cathayensis
Pterocarya stenoptera
Pterocarya paliurus
Ostrya japonica ..
Corylus chinensis
Alnus cremastogyne
Betula japonica ..
Fagus sinensis
Fagus engleriana
Castanea mollissima
Lithocarpus spicata
Quercus variabilis |
Quercus serrata ..
.. (Frontispiece)
PAGE
65
IV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE PAGE
388. Quercus glandulifera .. ae ee = Sie a 95
34. Quercus fabri me ak sy ae a aie a 96
35. Quercusaliena .. ae ae ots ar is oe 95
36. Quercus dentata.. ace oe aus aa ahs ne 99
87. Quercus glauca .. ts ae Se i ate -- 101
38. Quercus semicarpifolia .. ag tens ae sie -- 102
39. Quercus bambusifolia .. ie ne ar sia ae 106
40. Ulmus pumila .. ss 8 ais ‘i Pe -- 109
41. Ulmus laciniata .. ee ee ah es Ae -- Ill
42. Celtis bungeana .. ie sh a ne i -- 118
43. Pteroceltis tartarinowii .- ite ee 3 alts -- 116
44, Zelkova serrata .. 7 ba ai oe ae — 119
45. Hemiptelea davidii ae ae i os G eee LeWATIIOS
II. Stamens 5-adelphous;. style 1; fruit a woody 5-6 celled capsule. .
Salles 66 ti Vekewes a alye BA Wed ee Se dees ew) SS aR eRe we ue es Gordonia.
STEWARTITA
Deciduous shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, serrate, short petioled.
Flowers axillary or subterminal, large, white and showy, subtended by
the bracts; sepals 5; petals 5; stamens numerous, monadelphous; styles
5, free or connate. Fruit a 5 angled woody capsule dehiscent into 5
valves. Seeds usually narrowly winged, 1-4 in each cell.
About 6 species in China, Japan and E. America.
Stewartia sinensis Rehder & Wilson.
Shrub or tree to 10 m. tall, Leaves membranous, oblong-elliptic to
obovate-elliptic, acuminate, base narrow or slightly rounded, remotely
or acutely serrate, yellow-green and glabrous above, sparingly pubescent
below, 6-10 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide; petiole 5-8 mm. long. Flowers
solitary, white; bract leafy, 2-2.5 cm. long; stamens monadelphous; style
connate. Fruit subglobose, pointed, 2 cm. across. Seeds about 1 cm.
long, compressed, with a brown wing.
Hupeh, Szechuan, Kiangsi.
bo
Or
—
FLACOURTIACEAE
GORDONIA
Evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, coria-
ceous, entire or serrate, petioled. Flowers solitary, axillary, white and
showy; sepals 5, unequal, imbricated ; petals 5, obovate, free or slightly
connate at the base; stamens numerous, 5-adelphous or altogether;
ovary superior, 3-5 (rarely 6) celled; ovules 4-8 in each cell; style 1;
stigma 3-6 lobed. Fruit a woody capsule, 3-6 celled, with a persistent
axis. Seeds winged.
Sixteen or 17 species in tropical and subtropical Asia and EH. N.
America. Two species in China.
Gordonia axillaris Szyszylowicz. '
Shrub or small tree to 8m. tall. Leaves oblong-obovate or oblanceo-
late, obtuse, entire or serrate, dark green above, short petioled, 8-15 cm.
long. Flowers large, 5-8 cm. long, creamy white, nearly sessile; sepals
obcordate, purplish brown; petals roundish, obovate to obcordate; ovary
4 or 5 celled. Capsule brown, oblong-ovate. Seeds with a terminal
wing.
Szechuan, Yunnan to Hongkong and Formosa.
Gordonia sinensis Hemsley & Wilson.
Tree to 10 m. tall with gray longitudinally and shallowly fissured
bark. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, crenate-serrate, 12-18 cm. long;
petiole up to 1.5 cm. long. Flowers on a peduncle; peduncle about 4
em. long; ovary 5 celled; stigma capitate.
Szechuan on Omei Shan.
FLACOURTIACEAE
Trees or shrubs, rarely climbers. Leaves alternate, simple. Flowers
regular, perfect or unisexual. Petals hypogynous, imbricated, as many
as the sepals, (10-0) or none; sepals 2-15; stamens numerous, hypogynous
or perigynous, Torus often glandular and dilated, frequently surmounted
by a variously modified disk. Ovary usually 1 celled with several parietal
placentae ; ovules 2 to many on each placenta. Style 1 to several. Fruit
fleshy or dry, indehiscent or splitting into valves. Seeds with more or
less fleshy albumen. .
252 . CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
A family of 70 genera comprising more than 500 species, distributed
throughout the tropics. Several tropical genera yield edible fruits, or
seeds that produce cooking or other oils.
KEY TO GENERA
I. Flowers in axillary racemes; sepals 4 or 5, imbricate; ovary 1 celled,
superior; leaves pinnately veined, persistent; fruit a 2-8 seeded
DOLLY wee te wae aw aes eife' 6 hiss iar suet eect eee ee eee eces sce s AYLOSNA.
II. Flowers in terminal panicles.
A. Leaves pinnately veined, short stalked ; calyx 3-4 parted; fruit
a woody capsule.......... iapeiosyateeee sta la idea aliajeiro,atinlendaravst ale tone LOGs
B. Leaves 8-5 nerved, long stalked, deciduous.
1. Fruit a many seeded berry; styles usually 5; sepals im-
bricate, WsUall y Dsiissewiecaiereieie vst nigresiaeleie o-eisavein es LOST.
2. Fruit a capsule.
a. Styles 3, 2 parted at the apex, sepals ovate-lanceolate s
capsule 3 cm. long or less......... Sinisieteuds Poliothyrsis.
b. Styles 3-4, 3 parted at the apex; sepals cordate-ovate,
large, white; capsule 5-9 cm. long..........Carrierea.
ITOA
Tree. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, oblong to elliptic, acuminate;
rounded at the base, serrate, 34-40 cm. long; petiole to 6 cm. long.
Flowers in erect, terminal panicles, unisexual, apetalous; calyx 3 parted
(4); stamens numerous. Capsule woody, narrow ovoid, 1 celled, 9-10
em. long. Seeds numerous, winged.
1 species in Yunnan and Szechuan.
Itoa orientalis Hemsley.
Tree about 12-15 m. tall with light gray bark.
Itoa is distinguished from Poltothyrsis by the coriaceous, longer,
oblong, pinnately veined, shorter petioled leaves, by the 3-4 parted calyx,
numerous stamens, and by the large, tardily dehiscent, woody capsule.
The wood is said to be tough.
FLACOURTIACEAE 258
POLIOTHYRSIS
Deciduous trees. Leaves alternate, with 8 main veins from the base,
ovate, pointed, shallowly toothed. Flowers monoecious, unisexual by
abortion, apetalous, in large, erect panicles; calyx with 5 ovate-lanceolate
lobes; stamens 20-25; ovary ovoid, tomentose, 1 celled, many ovuled;
style 8; stigma bifid. Fruit an ellipsoid capsule, splitting into 3 valves.
Seeds small, winged.
A monotypic genus confined to Western China. Distinguished from
Idesia, which it resembles in foliage and habit, by the capsular fruit.
The fruit of Idesia is a dark red berry. The base of the leaf or apex of
the petiole usually bears minute glands on the upper surface.
Poliothyrsis sinensis Oliver.
Tree to 18 m. tall with gray bark. Leaves more or less ovate, round-
ed or cordate at base, 6 or 8 to 15 cm. long, 5 or 6 to 9 or 10 cm. wide, at
first pubescent beneath ; petiole slender, 3-4 cm. long. Flowers greenish
white, changing to yellow, about 8 mm. across. Capsule 1-3 cm. long,
6-10 mm. wide, tapering to both ends. Seeds winged.
Hupeh and Szechuan.
XYLOSMA
Evergreen trees or shrubs, often spinescent. Leaves alternate, dentate
or crenate, pinnately veined, without stipules. Flowers small, dioecious,
rarely perfect, apetalous, in axillary racemes; sepals 4-5, small, imbricate,
slightly connate at the base; stamens many, distinct; ovary superior,
surrounded by a glandular disk, 1 celled, with 2, (rarely 3-6) few ovuled
parietal placentae; styles 2 or more. Fruit a globose, 2-8 seeded berry.
About 45 species in the tropics. The wood of some species is aromatic,
a feature that is responsible for the latter part of the generic name.
Xylosma racemosum (§. & Z.) Miquel.
(Hisingera racemosa Siebold & Zuccarini. )
Shrub or tree sometimes to 20 or 25 m. tall, spiny or unarmed.
Branchlets glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves ovate, acuminate,
rounded at the base, serrate, 4-5 cm. long. Racemes to 2.5 cm. long.
Flowers yellow, fragrant, about 5 mm. across. Fruit black, 2-8 seeded, to
5 mm. in diameter.
254 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
E. China to Korea and Japan. In Western Szechuan this tree is
known as the Tung-ching or “Winter-green” tree. It is commonly
planted around temples, esteemed for its beauty.
IDESIA
Trees. Leaves deciduous, alternate, 3-5 nerved at the base, remotely
serrate, acute, more or less cordate, long petioled. The petioles and leaf
bases often with a few conspicuous glands or nectaries. Flowers apetalous,
dioecious, in terminal panicles; sepals 5, sometimes 3-6, imbricate ; ovary
globose, 1 celled; styles 5. Fruit a berry with many seeds embedded ina
pulpy flesh.
1 species in Central and W. China and §. Japan.
Idesia polycarpa Maximowicz.
Tree about 15 m. tall with smooth gray bark. Leaves ovate or oblong-
ovate, cordate at the base, acuminate, remotely crenate-serrate, dark
lustrous green and smooth above, glaucous and glabrous or pubescent
below, averaging about 15 cm. long; the petioles very variable, from 2.5
to 5 or 6 cm. long. Flowers greenish-yellow, in pendulous panicles, 10-15
cm. long. Staminate flowers 12 mm. in diameter. Pistillate flowers
smaller. Berries orange red, borne in long pendulous clusters.
China, Korea, Formosa and Japan.
A very common tree in Western Hupeh. The leaves resemble those
of the Catalpa in appearance, though they are thicker and smaller. The
bright red fruits in grape-like clusters are particularly handsome. Propa-
gated by seeds.
CARRIEREA
Deciduous tree. Leaves alternate, ovate, acuminate, serrate, rounded
or cordate at the base, long petioled. Flowers dioecious, apetalous, in
terminal, tomentose panicles, with 2 foliaceous bracts at the base of each
flower stalk ; sepals 5, pubescent; stamens numerous, shorter than the
sepals; ovary ovate-oblong, 1 celled, many ovuled, rudimentary in the
staminate flower ; styles 3-4, very short, stigma 3 parted. Fruit a large,
lanceolate capsule, dehiscent into 3 valves. Seeds numerous, winged.
The following is a handsome tree and the only species known.
FLACOURTIACEAE 255
Plate 88. IDESIA POLYCARPA Maximowicz
1, Fruiting branch; 2. Pistillate inflorescence; 3. Staminate inflores-
cence; 4. Staminate flower; 5. Pistillate flower; 6. Section
of fruit; 7. Stamen; 8. Seed. (Details enlarged.)
256 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Carrierea calycina Franchet.
Tree 10 m. tall. Leaves 8-15 cm. long, half as wide, acuminate,
crenate, ovate to elliptic or obovate, glabrous, at first reddish, later green.
Flowers white, firm in texture; 2-5 cm. in diameter ; sepals cordate-ovate. .
Capsule 5-9 cm. long, pubescent. Seeds winged.
Central China.
This tree resembles Jdea in appearance. The apetulous flowers with
large, white sepals, the staminate more numerous, the pistillate few or
solitary, and the capsular fruit are distinguishing characters.
ELEAGNACEAE
Trees or shrubs with silvery or brown scales or stellate hairs.
Leaves alternate or opposite (Shepherdia), simple, entire. Flowers perfect,
polygamous or dioecious, regular, apetalous, clustered or rarely solitary;
perianth of staminate flower 2 or 4 parted ; perianth of pistillate or perfect
flower campanulate and 2 or 4 lobed above, tubular or urn shaped
below and enclosing the ovary, more or less persistent and becoming
fleshy in the fruit; stamens 4 or 8, inserted on the tube; disk annular
or lobed; ovary superior, sessile, 1 celled, 1 ovuled; style and stigma 1.
Fruit an achene, enclosed in the fleshy receptacle, appearing drupe-like.
Three genera and about 50 species widely distributed. A sa
of no great importance, to the forester.
KEY TO GENERA
I. Flowers perfect or polygamous, solitary or 2-4 in a cluster; calyx
4 lobed; fruit oblong .......... cece cece cc eeeneees «++» Kleagnus.
II. Flowers unisexual, usually dioecious, in short racemes; calyx
minutely 2 lobed; fruit globose .............. seeee- +» Hippophae.
ELEAGNUS
Deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees, sometimes spiny, and mostly
with silvery scales or stellate pubescence. Leaves alternate, entire,
petioled. Flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters of 2-4, perfect or
ELEAGNACEAE 257
polygamous, apetalous, small and inconspicuous but usually fragrant;
perianth tubular, or campanulate, constricted above the ovary, 4 lobed;
stamens 4, inserted on the perianth and included, on short filaments,
Fruit drupe-like with a striated or grooved seed.
About 40 species in Europe, N. America and Asia, nearly all of
them shrubby. Many species have silvery foliage and ornamental fruits
and delicately scented though inconspicuous flowers.
Eleagnus umbellata Thunberg.
Usually a large shrub, sometimes a small tree 5 or 6 m. tall. Often
spiny. Branchlets brownish, often silvery. Leaves oval to ovate-oblong,
silvery white above and beneath, especially when young, 4-8 em. long.
Flowers fragrant, yellowish, with slender elongated tube longer than the
perianth lobes. Fruit globose or oval, red with silvery and brown scales,
about 8 mm. long; peduncles up to 12 mm. long.
Himalayas to China, and Japan. Szechuan, Hupeh, Kansu, Shansi,
Shantung.
The remaining 11 or 12 species in this country are shrubby.
HIPPOPHAE
Shrubs or trees with silvery scales on young twigs and leaves, often
spinescent. Leaves alternate, narrow, silvery gray. Flowers dioecious,
inconspicuous, yellow, in short racemes. Staminate flowers sessile;
sepals 2; stamens 4. Pistillate flowers short stalked; calyx minutely 2
toothed. Fruit drupe-like, globose, orange or yellow.
2 species in Europe and W. and C. Asia.
H. salicifolia D. Don is the Himalayan species.
Hippophae rhamnoides Linnzus.
Deciduous shrub or small tree, sometimes 12 m. tall. Young plants
covered with silvery scales. Branches gray and often spinescent. Leaves
linear-lanceolate, very short petioled, gray-green above, silvery-gray
beneath, 2.5-8 cm. long. Flowers appearing before the leaves. Fruit
subglobose to ovoid, orange-yellow, 6-8 mm. long.
Europe and temperate Asia. Szechuan, Shensi, Chihli.
258 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
This species has running roots, reproducing freely by suckers, and
has been successfully used to hold shifting sand. It grows in any kind
of soil. The pistillate plant when fruiting is very attractive. The fruits
are slightly poisonous.
NYSSACEAE
Trees. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or toothed. Flowers
unisexual or polygamous, aggregated in heads or clusters, with or with-
out accompanying bracts; calyx 5 lobed or wanting; petals 5 or wanting;
stamens 5-10, or numerous, all alike or in 2 series and unequal; disk
present; ovary 1 or 2 celled, or 6-10 celled; usually 1 ovule in each cell;
style elongated, curved, or short and thickened, or bifid. Fruit samaroid,
or a large or small drupe.
A family represented by 8 genera in China, all chiefly of ornamental
value.
KEY TO GENERA
I. Fruit samara-like, aggregated in a capitate head.......Camptotheca.
II. Fruit drupaceous.
A. Drupes small, 1-2 celled, 1 seeded; ovary 1-2 celled; perianth
present; the staminate and pistillate flowers in distinct clusters
with small deciduous bracts........- icglelor vet atee/abalece eee.» Nyssa.
B. Drupes large with a 3-5 celled stone; ovary 6-10 celled;
perianth wanting; inflorescence composed of a single pistillate
flower surrounded by numerous staminate flowers or of sta-
minate flowers only, accompanied by 2 or 3 large white bracts
sh abla teptetaneiece, de Wek 1s Sri hE-S dnd eee oe eiway at Aare send Sab wrenereas Davidia.
CAMPTOTHECA
Trees. Leaves alternate, entire, pinnately veined, elliptic-ovate to
oblong, acuminate, stalked. Flowers sessile in capitate heads, solitary
or in axillary or terminal panicles, unisexual or perfect; calyx cup-
shaped, slightly 5 toothed; petals 5, valvate (in aestivation) ; stamens
10, white, unequal, in 2 series, on slender filaments; disk epigynous, cup-
shaped; ovary oblong, depressed at the apex, 1 celled, 1 ovuled; style
NYSSACEAE 259
bifid. Fruit aggregated in a capitate head, samara-like, sessile, linear,
unequal sided, truncated at the apex with a thick, leathery coat, 1 celled,
1 seeded. A monotypic genus confined to China.
Camptotheca acuminata Decaisne.
Tree 20-25 m. tall with smooth, pale gray bark. Leaves 7-15 em.
long, 4-8 em. wide. Fruit brown when ripe, about 3 cm. long, many
crowded in a head.
Kiangsi, Szechuan, Yunnan, Hupeh.
This tree is widely distributed throughout the warmer parts of
Central China. It is rapid growing and very beautiful in full bloom.
The wood is white and soft, said to be used only for fuel.
NYSSA
Trees. Leaves alternate, entire, rarely remotely 1-4 toothed, petio-
late, and stipulate. Flowers polygamo-dioecious, minute, greenish.
Staminate flowers long pedicelled, in many flowered simple or compound
clusters; calyx cup-shaped, 5 toothed; sepals 5, thick, inserted on the
disk; stamens 5, exserted, filaments filiform; ovary absent. Pistillate
flowers in axillary peduncles, 1-2 or several in a cluster; calyx tube
campanulate, 5 toothed; petals 5, small and thick; stamens 5-10;
anthers fertile or sterile; ovary 1 or 2 celled; style elongated or curved.
Fruit an oblong or ovoid fleshy drupe with a bony, thick-wall, 1-2
celled, usually 1 seeded, stone.
Seven species; 5 in N. America, 1 in S. Asia, and 1 in China.
The genus is characterized by glossy foliage which turns brilliantly
red in the autumn. The Jupelos are especially effective for planting
along the margin of ponds or near streams. The wood is close grained,
suitable for interior finish and furniture making.
Nyssa sinensis Oliver.
Chinese Jupelo,
Bush or small tree. Branchlets and leaves pubescent, later becoming
glabrous. Leaves elliptical, acuminate, dark green above, pale shiny
green and pubescent along the veins below, 10 to 15 cm. long; petioles
pilose, short. Flowers racemose, peduncles long and slender. Staminate
260 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 89. NYSSA SINENSIS Oliver
1. Flowering branch; 2. Fruiting branch; 8. Section ofovary; 4.
Staminate flower; 5, Staminate inflorescence; 6. Pistillate flower.
(Enlarged details from Hooker’s ‘‘Icones Plantarum” P). 1964.)
NYSSACEAE 261
inflorescence many flowered; petals narrow-oblong; stamens 5-10.
Pistillate few, on slender stalks; ovary glabrous. Fruit short pedicelled,
in clusters of 2 or 3, on long, ascending peduncles, 2-5 cm. long. The
flesh is thin. Stone ridged.
Hupeh and Kiangsi. Common along water courses near Kuling in
Kiangsi, elsewhere said to be rare.
DAVIDIA
Deciduous trees. Leaves alternate, coarsely dentate, slender peti-
oled and without stipules. Inflorescence polygamous, in a terminal,
subglobose head, pendulous on a long peduncle, more or less concealed
by overhanging bracts. The bracts are usually 2 in number, rarely 3,
large, conspicuous, unequal in size, sessile, leafy, creamy-white, thin
and membranous, entire or remotely serrate, rounded or cordate at the
base, deciduous. The flowering head composed of a. single perfect
flower entirely surrounded by numerous staminate flowers, or consists
entirely of staminate flowers. Staminate flowers achlamydeous, the
perianth reduced to a swollen ring; stamens 1-7, filaments filiform,
anthers purple. The perfect flowers are naked, subsessile, obliquely
attached to the head; stamens shortly epigynous, attached to the base of
the thickened style on top of the ovary; stigmas spreading, as many as
the cells; ovary inferior, 6-10 celled, 1 ovule in each cell. Fruita drupe;
flesh thin; stone 3-5 celled.
A genus containing a single species, native of China.
Davidia involucrata Baillon.
Tree 18 m. tall. Leaves bright green, ovate or ovate-cordate,
acuminate, coarsely serrate with glandular teeth, prominently veined,
more or less pubescent below, 6-13 cm. long and 5-8 cm. wide. Petiole
2.5-10 cm. long. The larger bract sometimes 15 cm. long. Inflorescence
about 3 cm. across; peduncle of fruit about 10 cm. long. Fruit 4 em.
long, oblong-ovoid, greenish-yellow, marked by reddish-brown spots;
epicarp thin; stone hard, bony, deeply grooved and channeled.
Var. vilmoriniana Dode.
A glabrous form of the above.
Hupeh and Szechuan.
262 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
S
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ae y
Sie
iy
Plate 90. DAVIDIA INVOLUCRATA Daillon
1. Flowering branch; 2. Fruiting branch; 8. Seeds; 4. Inflorescence: iii:
5. Staminate flower. (5 enlarged.)
ARALIACEAE 263
Among all the Chinese trees, there is none more interesting or
distinctive than the Davidia. It is a remarkably beautiful tree in full
bloom, with the large creamy-white bracts fluttering against the back-
ground of the bright green leaves. It is well worthy of general cultiva-
tion in gardens in the temperate parts of the country.
ARALIACEAE
Trees, shrubs or herbs, erect or climbing, sometimes spiny. Leaves
alternate, simple, or pinnately or digitately compound, or decompound.
Flowers regular, umbellate or panicled, perfect or unisexual, small and
epigynous. Parts of the flowers usually in 5’s. Sepals minute, sometimes
wanting; petals rarely more than 5; stamens alternate with, rarely 2 or 3
times as many as, the petals. Ovary inferior, 2-5 celled; 1 ovule in each
cell. Styles as many as the cells. Fruita dry or fleshy berry with the
calyx persistent at the apex.
About 51 genera containing 400 species, chiefly tropical. A few
genera extend into the temperate regions of N. America and E. Asia.
KEY TO GENERA
I. Petals imbricate; leaves pinnate to decompound.....+-.eee- Aralia.
II. Petals valvate; leaves simple, palmately lobed, or digitately compound
ee eh ee ene rc MACS ee eas TOOT COOKE Oe ee ce ACANIOpANaL.
ARALIA
Trees, shrubs or herbs, often with prickly stems, the prickles being
modified hairs. Leaves deciduous, alternate; pinnately compound or
decompound; leaflets serrulate; stipules on the expanded clasping base
of the petiole. Flowers with imbricate petals, small, whitish, perfect or
polygamous, usually in umbellate panicles, Petals and stamens 5. Ovary
2-5 celled, adnate to the calyx tube. Styles 2-5, free or, slightly connate
at the base. Fruit a berry-like fleshy drupe more or less angled, with 2-5
hard compressed stones.
About 30 species in Asia and N. America. Valuable for ornamental
planting. Easily propagated by seeds, suckers and root cuttings.
264 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Aralia chinensis Linnezus.
Chinese Angelica Tree.
Shrub or tree to 8 m. tall, often with several stems and few, very
thick, prickly branches, spreading freely from root suckers. Leaves
often 1 m. long, decompound. Leaflets ovate, acuminate, coarsely serrate
or dentate, bright green above, pubescent or glabrescent or glaucous
below, short stalked, 6-15 cm. long. Flowers appear in late summer,
small, whitish, in numerous, globose umbels in a long panicle, 60 em.
long; pedicels tomentose; styles distinct. Fruit small, black, numerous.
China and Japan.
This species shows much variability, particularly in the canescent or
glabrescent character of the leaflets, which has led some botanist to establish
a variety canescens and a variety glabrescens which, however, need not be
considered by the practical botanist.
Aralia wilsonii Harms.
A shrub 2-3 m. high resembling A. chinensis and apparently chiefly
differing in their glabrous or nearly glabrous inflorescence and foliage,
the under surface of the leaflets being bright green. The leaflets also
appear to have distinctly longer petiolules. May be a form of A. chinensis.
Found by E. H. Wilson in Western Szechuan.
ACANTHOPANAX
Trees or shrubs. Branches stout, usually with stout prickles. Leaves
deciduous, alternate, simple and palmately lobed, or digitately compound,
long petiolate. Flowers with valvate petals, small, greenish, perfect or
polygamous, in solitary umbels or in large terminal panicled umbels.
Calyx tube coherent with the ovary, minutely toothed ; petals and stamens
5, inserted together on the edge of the disk. Ovary usually 5 celled, rarely
2. Styles 2-5, more or less connate at the base. Fruit black, a 2-5
seeded berry.
About 18 species in Central and Hastern Asia from Manchuria to the
Himalayas.
Propagated by root cuttings, by division, offsets, and by seeds. The
number of seeds per pound is about 55,000. They germinate very slowly.
Acanthopanax ricinifolius Seeman.
Tree 25 m. tall. Branchlets red-brown and with stout prickles. Leaves,
digitately 5-7 lobed, wider than long, subcordate or nearly truncate at the
ARALIACEAE 265
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Plate 91. ACANTHOPANAX RICINIF OLIUS Seeman
1. Fruiting branch; 2. Leaf; 3. Flower, enlarged.
266 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
base, 15~25 cm. in diameter; lobes ovate-triangular, acuminate, serrate,
about 1/8 the length of the leaf; sinus acute, dark green above, pale green,
slightly pubescent below; petiole long, more or less tomentose. Flowers
appear in late summer, are umbellate in large terminal panicles, small,
white. Styles 2, connate at the base. Fruit small, black and globose.
China, Korea, and Japan. Szechuan and Hupeh to Chekiang and
Fukien.
The wood has a disagreeable odor, is fairly hard, compact and
straight grained, of a reddish-brown color. It is used in Japan for
furniture, for building purposes, and for railway ties.
The young leaves are eaten by the Japanese. The foliage resembles
somewhat that of the castor oil plant.
CORNACEAE
Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs with scaly buds. Leaves opposite, rarely
alternate, pinnately veined, simple, entire or toothed, without stipules.
Flowers perfect, rarely unisexual, regular, epigynous. Calyx 4 or 5
toothed, or wanting; petals 4 or 5, inserted on the calyx and alternate
with its teeth. Stamens 4 or 5, alternate with the petals, inserted on
the margin of the disk; anthers introrse. Style usually with a capitate
stigma. Ovary superior, 2 celled, rarely 1-10 celled. Ovules solitary in
each cell, rarely 2. Fruit a 1-2 seeded drupe, or a berry.
The family includes 15 genera and about 120 species, mostly in the
temperate regions. Nyssa, Davidia and Camptotheca, are included by some
botanists under this family. The evergreen shrub Aucuba, with handsome
and often variegated leaves and small purple paniculate flowers, belongs to
this family.
CORNUS
Trees and shrubs with astringent bark, Leaves deciduous, opposite,
rarely alternate or whorled, entire. Flowers small, perfect, white or
yellow, in heads or cymes. Calyx minutely 4 toothed; petals 4; stamens
4, alternate with the petals; style simple, capitate; ovary inferior,
2 celled, 1 ovulé in each cell, Fruit a drupe with thin flesh and hard
stone, 2 celled, 2 seeded.
CORNACEAE 267
About 50 species in the northern hemisphere. The bark, leaves and
fruit are used in medicine for their astringent and tonic properties. The
genus is highly ornamental. A large number of species have an inflores-
cence accompanied by showy petal-like bracts which makes the tree
extremely attractive in bloom. The brightly colored stem and twigs of
some shrubby species render them desirable as decorative subjects.
Cornus kousa Buerger.
(Benthamia japonica Siebold & Zuccarini.)
Shrub or small tree up to 10 m. high. Young shoots smooth. Leaves
elliptic-ovate, acuminate, cuneate at the base, margin undulate, dark
green above, pale green and pubescent below, 5-10 cm. long. Inflorescence
appears aiter the leaves, very showy, composed of small, inconspicuous
flowers closely packed in a terminal head, surrounded by 4 showy, creamy-
white bracts developed from the 4 accrescent winter bud scales; bracts
3.5-5 cm. long, ovate and slender pointed. Fruit fleshy, in a globose
head.
China, Korea and Japan.
This tree presents a strikingly handsome appearance when in bloom.
Cornus capitata Wallich.
(Benthamia fragifera Lindley.) ;
A small tree, 10 m. tall. Leaves leathery, ovate-lanceolate, tapered
at both ends, densely pubescent below, slightly pubescent above, 5-10 cm.
long. Bracts ovate, acute, yellow. Fruit strawberry-like, scarlet, 2.5 cm.
across, composed of numerous small drupes, each containing a stony
seed.
Himalayas to China.
China: Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan.
Cornus controversa Hemsley.
Tree 18 m. tall. Leaves irregularly alternate, ovate, rounded at the
base, acuminate. Flowers in umbel-like cymes, cream colored, 8-10 cm.
wide. Fruit blue-black.
Himalayas, China and Japan.
Kiangsi, Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan.
68 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 92. CORNUS KOUSA Buerger
Flowering branch; 2 Fruit; 3. Ovary; 4. Section of flower.
(Details enlarged.)
CORNACEAE 269
Plate 93. CORNUS CAPITATA Wallich
1. Flowering branch; 2. Fruiting branch; 3. Flower, enlarged.
270 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Cornus macrophylla Wallich.
Tree to 10 m. tall. Branches reddish-brown. Leaves broadly ovate to
elliptic-ovate, acuminate, dark green above, pale green, glaucous and
slightly appressed hairy below, with 5-8 pairs of lateral veins, 10-15 cm.
long; petiole slender, Inflorescence a loose, terminal, dichotomous cyme,
5-10 cm. across; flowers white on short peduncles, calyx urn-shaped, style
more or less enlarged toward the apex. The pedicels, calyx and the
outer surface of the petals are somewhat appressed silky hairy. Fruit a
blue-black drupe, about 8 mm. across.
Himalayas to China and Japan. China: Yunnan, Szechuan, Hupeh,
and Shensi.
EBENACEAE
Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, rarely sub-opposite, entire.
Flowers regular, dioecious, rarely perfect; calyx 3-6 parted, persistent
and usually enlarged in the fruit. Corolla 8-6 lobed, hypogynous,
coriaceous. Stamens usually free from the corolla, as many as its lobes,
or twice as many or more numerous. Ovary superior, 2-16 celled; ovules
1 or 2 in each cell. Style 2-8. Seeds albuminous. ;
Five genera and 280 species, in tropical and subtropical regions,
especially in the E. Hemisphere. The unisexual flowers and the superior
2 to many celled ovary are distinctive characters.
DIOSP YROS
Deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, rarely
opposite, entire, without stipules. Flowers dioecious, rarely polygamous,
in axillary cymes, or solitary on the axils of the leaves of the year, or
lateral on older branches. Calyx usually 4 lobed, occasionally 3-7,
accrescent under the fruit. Corolla 3-7, usually 4 lobed, tubular or cup-
like, yellow or white. Stamens usually 16 (4 to indefinite). Ovary 4,
sometimes 8 celled. Style 1-4, free or united; stigma 2 lobed. Ovules 2
in each cell. Fruit a large juicy or pulpy berry, 1-10 seeded, the enlarged
calyx persistent at the base. Seeds oblong, compressed, blackish and
lustrous.
About 160 species, most of them in the tropics. The wood is hard,
strong and close grained, with thin, pale sap wood and almost black
EBENACEAE 271
ORF
of
ve ps Ore
EN
Plate 94. CORNUS MACROPHYLLA Wallich
1. Fruiting branch; 2. Inflorescence; 3. Flower; 4. Fruit; 5. Section
of fruit; 6. Petal; 7. Pistil; 8. Stamen; 9. Section of flower.
(Details enlarged.)
272 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
heartwood. The much prized, valuable ebony wood of commerce is} |
derived mostly from Diospyros ebenum; other species in the tropics yield
various dyes and medicines. Several species are cultivated for their '
fruits. Propagated by seeds, by cuttings of half ripened wood, and by
layers. The horticultural varieties are usually budded or grafted.
Diospyros lotus Linneus.
Wild Persimmon. *
Deciduous trees to 20 m. tall. Leaves elliptic or oblong, 5-13 cm.
long, acuminate, membranous and pubescent, shiny green above, paler
green below; petiole slender, 12 mm. long. Staminate flowers reddish-
white, short stalked, in clusters of 3’s. Pistillate flowers solitary. Calyx
lobed half way down to the base. Corolla green, tinged with red, glabrous
on the outside. Stamens 16. Ovary glabrous except at the apex. Fruit
globose, 1.2—-2 cm. long, yellow at first, dark purple when ripe and covered
with a whitish bloom, sweet and edible.
W. Asia, N. Persia, N. India, N. China. Naturalized in the Medi-
terranean region. Diospyros lotus has been reported as a common tree in
the mountains near Peking. The-fruit is small, oval, pointed, blackish,
sweet and edible when fully ripe. This tree is used as stock upon which
the cultivated forms are grafted. The rich black heartwood is very
valuable for the manufacture of fancy articles and high grade furniture.
For these purposes it rivals the ebony and mahogany of commerce.
Diospyros kaki Linnzus.
Tree 15 m. tall. Leaves 8-18 cm. long. Flowers yellowish-white.
Stamens 16-24. Styles divided to the base. Staminate and pistillate
flowers differ in size and shape. Fruit very variable, generally orange or
yellow, of the size and shape of the tomato, about 8 cm. in diameter.
China. Introduced into Japan.
The common cultivated tree, with many varieties distinguished.
Two distinct types occupy distinct localities; the northern type is thin
skinned and yellow; the southern type is thick skinned and orange or
reddish. The fruit is very variable in size and shape, but in general, it
is tomato-like, with one or more furrows around the circumference. The
unripe fruit of this species is used to waterproof paper hats and umbrel-
las. A note on the technique of the making of the varnish may prove
EBENACEAE 273
Plate 95. DIOSPYROS LOTUS Linneus
1. Fruiting branch; 2. Flowering branch; 3. Section of fruit; 4,
Seeds; 5. Staminate flower; 6. Pistillate flowers (Details
slightly enlarged).
274 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 96. DIOSPYROS KAKI Linnzus
1. Flowering branch; 2. Fruiting branch; 3. Flower; 4. Flower with
perianth partly removed; 65. Section of ovary; 6. Seed. (Details
enlarged.)
STYRACEAE 275
of interest. The fruits are picked while green and still immature and are
pounded into a pulpy mass by means of a wooden hammer, and placed
into earthen jars with a quantity of water. The contents of the jar are
stirred from time to time and are then left undisturbed for twenty days,
after which the pulp is removed and the colorless syrupy liquid which
remains is then mixed with the leaves of a certain species of Privet,
(Tung-ching) for the purpose of imparting to it a reddish color. The
varnish then is ready for use.
STYRACEAE
Trees or shrubs, with more or less stellate pubescence. “Leaves
alternate, simple, pinnately veined, without stipules. Flowers regular,
perfect; calyx 4-5 cleft, more or less adnate to the ovary; corolla 4-5
lobed, the lobes nearly divided to the base; stamens free, in 1 series, or
more or less connate at the base, usually twice as many as the lobes of
the corolla; ovary imperfectly 3-5 celled; style 1; ovules 1 to several in
each cell. Fruit a capsular drupe. :
Seven genera and about 100 species in the warm parts of N. and §.
America, E. Asia and the Mediterranean region, The family is chiefly
useful for ornamental purposes. One of the showy genera in this family
is Halesia, the Silver Bell of America.
KEY TO GENERA
I. Ovary superior; calyx tube campanulate; fruit globose or oblong,
not ribbed, nor winged. .......... see e eee eee eee eee ee eens Styrax.
II. Ovary inferior or subinferior, fruit ribbed or winged, or capsular.
A. Fruit ribbed or winged; flowers in panicles; ovary 8 celled
sie Bi pp Rasa arya alee SF ROSSER aS Rts LGD LEIS AOR RED RORE o gare Pterostyrax.
B. Fruit a woody capsule, dehiscent into 5 valves; flowers in
racemes; ovary 5 celled........ eee cece ee eee Alniphyllum.
PTEROSTYRAX
Deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, entire, dentate,
pubescent, petioled. Flowers in panicles, fragrant; calyx 5 toothed;
corolla 5 parted nearly to the base; stamens 10, exserted; ovary é
celled; style long. Fruit,a ribbed or winged nut, 1-2 seeded.
Z
276 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Three species in China and Japan. Referred by some botanists to
Halesia.
Pterostyrax micranthum Siebold & Zuccarini.
(Pterostyrax hispidum Siebold & Zuccarini.)
(Halesia hispida (S. & Z.) Masters.)
Tree sometimes 16 m. tall with gray-brown bark. Leaves without
stipules, 6-21 cm. long, 3-10 cm. wide, elliptic or ovate to oblong, acute
or acuminate, base cuneate, denticulate, green above, pale and glabrous
or slightly tomentose below; petiole 1-2.5 cm. long. Panicles axillary,
10-16 em. long with 2 or 3 leaves at the base of the inflorescence; flowers
cream-white, fragrant, about 8 mm. long; ovary 3 celled; ovules 4 in
each cell; style longer than the stamens. Fruit 1 cm. long, 2.5 mm.
wide, tapered at both ends, 10 ribbed, densely hairy, crowned by the
style.
China and Japan.
This plant is most often found under Pterostyrax hispidum in
botanical literature but as P. micranthum refers to the same species and
has prior place in the writings of Siebold and Zuccarini it should, by the
rules of nomenclature, be regarded as the oldest botanical name.
Pterostyrax corymbosum Siebold & Zuccarini.
Shrub or small tree. Leaves serrulate, usually with bristle pointed
teeth, to 12 cm. long. Panicles corymbose, to 18 em. long. Fruit with
4-5 narrow wings.
China and Japan. In China only known from Kuling, Kiangsi.
i STYRAX
Shrubs or small trees, more or less stellate pubescent. Leaves
deciduous or evergreen, alternate, stalked, without stipules. Flowers
usually large, in drooping clusters ; calyx campanulate, slightly 5 toothed,
adnate to the base of the ovary; petals 5, slightly connate at the base;
stamens 10 or fewer, inserted at the base of the corolla, free or monadel-
phous; ovary superior, 3 celled at the base; ovules several in each cell;
style slender; stigma 3 parted or capitate. Fruit a drupe, globose or
oblong, dry or fleshy, the pericarp dehiscent into 3 valves at the apex.
Seeds 1-2, large, subglobose.
STYRACEAE 277
About 100 species in the warmer parts of Asia, Europe and America.
About 12 species in China, most of them shrubs. From. Styrax benzoin
of the E. Indies, the fragrant resin benzoin is obtained.
Styrax japonicus Siebold & Zuccarini.
Shrub or tree up to 10 m. tall. Branchlets and leaves at first stellate
pubescent. Leaves oval, tapering at both ends, sometimes acuminate,
crenate serrate, dark glossy green, glabrous, 2.5-9 cm. long; petiole short.
Flowers white, 2 cm. in diameter, pendulous, in a few flowered raceme;
petals spreading, tomentose on the outside; calyx glabrous, with short
teeth, persistent under the fruit. Drupe oval, about 12 mm. long.
Hupeh, Szechuan, Shantung to Korea and Japan.
ALNIPHYLLUM
Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, obscurely serrate, petiolate.
Flowers perfect, white or red, in racemes; calyx campanulate, 5 toothed,
tomentose; petals 5, connate at the base, oblong, elliptic, imbricate;
stamens 10, unequal, in 2 series, the filaments united below into a tube;
ovary partly inferior, 5 celled, ovate, tomentose; ovules 5-8 in each cell;
style slender, terminated by an obscurely 5 toothed stigma, Fruit an
oblong, woody capsule, dehiscent into 5 vaives. S"
3 species, 2 in Formosa, 1 in China.
Alniphyllum fortunei (Hemsley) Perkins.
(Halesia fortunei Hemsley.)
Shrub or tree to 10 m. tall, or taller. Leaves ovate to broadly ovate,
short acuminate, base rounded, remotely and regular or obscurely
serrate, dark green above, paler and slightly tomentose below, 8-13 cm.
long, 4.5-5.5 em. wide; petiole 8-15 mm. long. Inflorescence many
flowered, racemose or paniculate; flowers white, 2.5 cm. long; calyx 5
toothed, persistent; petals lanceolate-oblong. Capsule slightly 5 seeded,
dehiscent into 5 lobes, dark brown, oblong, beaked, about 2 cm, long,
Seeds numerous, irregularly winged, 6-10 mm. long.
Fukien, Yunnan and Hupeh.
278 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
OLEACEAE
Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, rarely alternate or whorled,
simple or pinnate, without stipules. Flowers perfect or dioecious or
polygamo-dioecious, regular, small; calyx 4 lobed (4-15); corolla 4
lobed (6-12), or rarely absent; stamens 2 (rarely 38-5); ovary superior,
2 celled; ovules 2. Fruit a drupe, berry, capsule, or samara.
Twenty genera and more than 400 species in the temperate and
tropical regions. The Olive is the most important member of the family;
others of horticultural interest are Jasminum (Jasmine), Forsythia (Golden
Bell) and Syringa or Lilac. The following are the more important
arborescent genera.
KEY TO GENERA
J. Leaves pinnate; fruit a samara with a terminal wing. . Frazinus.
II. Leaves simple; fruit fleshy, a drupe or berry-like.
A. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe.
1. Corolla deeply divided into 4 long linear lobes......
wide de arte io Lae eR ace SHUN SG HS RE eae eR RS es Chionanthus,
2 Corolla tubular ......... ccc ec eee ecens Osmanthus.
B. Fruit berry-like, scarcely drupaceous, with 1-4 stones....
wiighada bs eka eeicslecerSunee yr otntaen tt ole cs eae ta scan ce nah ata 4 Ligustrum.
FRAXINUS
Trees or shrubs. Terminal buds large, with 4 scales visible. Leaves
deciduous, opposite, odd pinnate or rarely reduced to a single leaflet,
petiolate and without stipules. Flowers regular, dioecious or polygamous
or rarely perfect in terminal panicles on leafy shoots, or from axils of
new leaves, or from buds developed from the axils of leaves of the
previous year’s growth, or from the base of young branchlets. Calyx 4
lobed or absent; corolla 4-6 parted or connate at the base. in pairs.
Stamens usually 2. Style 2 lobed. Ovary usually 2 celled; ovules 1 in
each cell. Fruit a lanceolate or oblong-spatulate or flattened samara, 1
celled, 1 seeded.
About 30 species in the temperate regions of the N. Hemisphere.
About 8 or 10 species in China. They are hardy as well as ornamental
and are eminently suited for planting as street trees on account of their
OLEACEAE 279
pyramidal habit and light foliage. Most species are important forest
trees as well, for they sprout freely from stump and produce a straight
grained, tough, valuable wood of good size, much sought whenever
pliability and toughness are the qualities desired. The wood is commonly
used for making wagons, wheels, spokes, tool handles, furniture, and
for interior finish.
Fraxinus chinensis Roxburgh.
White Wax Tree. (Pe-la Shu).
A small tree, 13 m. tall with brownish-black winter buds which are
conspicuously woolly tomentose at the time of opening. Branchlets
glabrous. Leaves 138-20 cm. long, with channeled petioles enlarged at
the base, nearly glabrous; leaflets 5-9, 5-10 cm. long, the basal pair
smaller than the others, coriaceous, acuminate at the apex, rounded or
cuneate at the base, serrate, short stalked, dark green and glabrous above,
pubescent or hairy along the base of the veins and pale gréen below.
Flowers with the leaves in lateral and terminal, glabrous panicles.
Pistillate panicles 8-16 cm. long; calyx 4 parted;. corolla absent. Fruit
oblanceolate, obtuse, acute or emarginate at the apex, 4 cm. long.
Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhwei, Szechuan, Hupeh, Kwangtung and
Tongking. :
This species is very variable as regards the shape and serration of
the leaves. Five varieties have been distinguished. Among them is:
Var. rhynchopylla Hemsley.
Leaflets usually 5, entire or irregularly crenate-serrate, long
acuminate, with slender stalks. Chihli and Manchuria.
Fraxinus mariesii Hooker.
Shrub or small tree. Branchlets cylindrical, purplish, pubescent.
Winter buds gray-black. Petiole glandular, pubescent. Leaflets 5-7,
nearly touching each other, sessile, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or
acuminate, serrate or entire, puberulous along the base of the midrib,
4-8 cm. long. Flowers in erect, very showy panicles; calyx 4 cleft;
petals 5 or 6; stamens 2-4. Fruit with a narrow obtuse wing.
Central China. This handsome species is very free blooming.
280 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 97. FRAXINUS CHINENSIS Roxburgh
1. Fruiting branch; 2. Flowering branch.
fi
‘
OLEACEAE 281
Insect white wax is produced on Frazinus chinensis and F. mariesii.
The insect, Coccus pe-la, is bred on the Ligustrum lucidum and other
species of privet. In April, the mature cocoons are carried by night
some distance to the region where the ash trees are cultivated and there
affixed to the branches. In August, the branches incrusted with the
wax are removed and boiled, the wax thus separated is melted and
allowed to harden in pans. Pe-la is used for coating candles made from
vegetable tallow and to a smaller extent from animal tallow, for coating
pills and also for imparting a glossy surface to silks and better grades of
cloth.
Fraxinus bungeana De Candole.
Tree 5 m. tall. Winter buds almost black. Leaflets 5, the basal
pair only slightly smaller than the others, ovate or obovate, obtuse or
short acuminate, serrate, glabrous, to 4 cm. long, distinctly stalked.
Flowers in terminal panicles many flowered, to 6 cm. long; corolla
divided nearly to the base; calyx with narrow acute lobes; filaments
longer than the lobes of the corolla. Fruit linear-oblong, obtuse or
emarginate at the apex of the wing.
N. China to Japan.
Fraxinus platypoda Oliver.
Tree 6 m. tall. Leaflets 7-9, 6-9 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate, slightly
acuminate, serrate, pilose-tomentose on the midrib beneath. Base of
leaf rachis dilated into an ovate or orbicular lobe. Samara 4.5-5 cm.
long, ovate-oblong, with a slight mucronate apex; base surrounded by
the persistent calyx.
Hupeh.
F, paxiana also with the base of the leaf rachis dilated.
Fraxinus mandschurica Ruprecht.
Tree, 30 m. tall. Branchlet glabrous, quadrangular, with dark brown
buds, Leaf rachis winged and brownish tomentose at the base of the
leaflets; leaflets 7-13, 8-13 cm. long, oval or ovate-lanceolate, serrate,
subsessile, pubescent on the veins beneath. Flowers appear before the
leaves from axillary buds, dioecious, achlymedious (without calyx and
corolla). Fruit in globose clusters, oblong-lanceolate, apiculate or
emarginate, 2.5-4 cm. long.
282 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 98. FRAXINUS PLATYPODA Oliver
1. Fruiting branch; 2. Leaf
OLEACEAE 283
Manchuria, Korea and Japan.
The wood is used for railroad ties, agricultural implements, house
construction, as well as for furniture and interior finish. Large quanti-
ties of this lumber, locally known as ‘‘Ma-li,’? are exported by the
Japanese to this country.
Fraxinus griffithii Clarke.
(F. bracteata Hemsley).
Tree to 12 m. tall. Leaflets 5-7, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, entire
or sometimes slightly crenate toward the apex, ovate-lanceolate or
oblong, obtuse, with rounded or cuneate base, shiny green above, pale
green and pubescent along the veins below, 5-10 cm. long; petiole of
leaflets long and slender, curved. Panicles broad, dense, somewhat
pubescent, 15-20 cm. high with oblong, persistent bracts. Petals 4; calyx
cup-shaped, persistent. Fruit narrow spatulate, obtuse.
Central China, Himalayas, Japan.
Fraxinus retusa Champion.
Tree. Leaflets usually 5, glabrous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate,
acuminate, serrate, prominently reticulated beneath, short petioled,
5-8 cm. long. Flowers white, many in a panicle; calyx cup-shaped,
entire or obscurely 5 toothed; petals 4, linear-oblong. Fruit narrow,
notched at the apex, about 2.5 cm. long and 3 mm. wide.
Fukien and Kwangtung.
Var. henryana Oliver.
Tree 11 m. tall. Leaflets oblong-lanceolate, serrulate, 7-12 cm. long,
slender stalked. Panicles dense, 10-15 cm. long. Fruit 2-2.5 cm. long,
emarginate.
Hupeh and Szechuan.
Fraxinus paxiana Lingelsheim.
Tree to 13 m. tall. Leaflets 7-9, ovate, sessile with shallowly
crenate margins, 10-17 cm. long. Fruits 2.5-3 em. long.
Central China to Himalayas.
|
CHIONANTHUS
Shrub or tree. Leaves deciduous, opposite, entire. Flowers in loose
panicles, white, fragrant, perfect or polygamous; calyx 4 lobed or
284 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
parted; corolla deeply divided into 4 (5 or 6) elongated lobes; stamens . .
2, rarely 4, inserted on the corolla; ovary superior, 2 celled; style short;
stigma 2 lobed. Fruit a fleshy, ovoid, 1 seeded drupe.
Two species, 1 in N. America, the other in China. The American
species, called the Fringe Tree, is a common garden plant cultivated
especially for its abundant white flowers.
Chionanthus retusus Lindley & Paxton.
(Chionanthus chinensis Maximowicz. )
Chinese Fringe Tree.
Shrub or tree to 10 m. tall. Young shoots tomentose. Leaves
obovate to oval or oblong-ovate, acute, rounded or emarginate at the
apex, tapered at the base, deep shiny green above, pubescent along the
veins below, 2.5-4 cm. long; petiole to 12 cm. long, densely pubescent.
Flowers dioecious, snowy white, fragrant, in erect panicles opening in
early summer; petals strap-shaped, to 2 em. long. Drupe dark blue,
ovoid, to 13 em. long.
Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan, Kwangtung, Shensi, Shantung, Chihli,
Korea, Japan, and Formosa.
The leaves of the seedlings and young plants of this tree are more
or less finely toothed.
OSMANTHUS
Evergreen shrubs or trees. Leaves usually opposite, entire or
toothed, short petioled. Flowers perfect, polygamous or dioecious, in
axillary or terminal cymes or panicles; calyx 4 parted or toothed;
corolla tubular with 4 elliptic, obtuse, imbricated lobes; stamens 2
(rarely 4) on the corolla tube; ovary 2 celled; style 2 lobed or nearly
entire. Fruit an ovoid or globose drupe, with a 1 seeded stone.
About 8 species: Himalayas, China, Japan to North America.
Osmanthus fragrans (Thurb.) Louriero.
(Olea fragrans Thunberg.) Kwei Hua.
Shrub or tree to 10 m. tall. Leaves coriaceous, entire or serrate,
reticulate beneath, elliptic to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, cuneate at
the base, to 17 cm. long; petiole to 2 cm. long. Flowers white, very
OLEACEAE 285
dragrant; calyx 4 toothed; corolla divided nearly to the base, tube not
over 5 mm. long, lobes oblong. Drupe ovoid, about 12 mm. long.
Chihli, Szechuan, Yunnan, Hupeh. Extensively cultivated.
The leaves are usually serrulate on seedling and young plants, often
becoming entire or nearly so as the plants reach flowering and fruiting
condition. This is a favorite tree in Chinese gardens. The fragrant
flowers are sometimes used to scent tea.
Osmanthus armata Diels.
Shrub, or tree to 7 m. tall. Leaves short petioled, oblong-lanceolate,
remotely spiny toothed or entire, cordate or rounded at the base, to 15
em, long. Fruit dark violet, ovoid, 2 em. long.
C. and W. China.
Osmanthus marginata Bentham and Hooker, O. serrulata Rehder,
O. venosa Pampanini, are other species described as trees or shrubs in
China.
LIGUSTRUM
Shrubs or trees. Leaves deciduous or evergreen, opposite, entire,
short petioled, without stipules. Flowers perfect, white, in terminal
panicles ; calyx small, campanulate, obscurely 4 toothed ; corolla tubular
with 4 spreading lobes; stamens 2, inserted on the corolla tube. Fruit
a 1-4 seeded drupe, berry-like, blue-black, greenish or yellow.
About 50 species. Several species are favorite hedge plants. They
are much branched shrubs with panicled, white, fragrant flowers, and
small berry-like fruits which are retained on the plant late in the winter.
Ligustrum lucidum Aiton.
(Tung Ching.) Evergreen Privet.
Evergreen shrub or tree to 6 m. tall. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceo-
late, pointed, tapering at the base, dark shiny green above, to 15 cm.
long. Flowers white, in compact terminal panicles, 15-23 cm. long,
and about as broad ; corolla tube as long as the calyx. Fruit blue-black,
to 12 mm. long.
Hupeh, Szechuan, Fukien, Chekiang.
286 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Insect white wax is sometimes produced on this tree. A very
attractive tree in winter with its dark green glossy foliage and abundant
blue-black fruits. Very often planted in yards, over graves and along
roadsides. JL. ibota Siebold, L. sinense Lourieo and L. amurense Carriere
are some of the most common shrubby forms in this country.
BORAGINACEAE
Herbs, rarely shrubs or trees, usually hispid. Leaves alternate,
mostly entire, without stipules. Flowers perfect, regular, rarely irregu-
lar, usually pentamerous, in panicles, corymbs or racemes, rarely
solitary; calyx persistent, free, 5 (4-8) cleft or lobed; corolla game-
petalous, 5 (4-6) lobed; stamens 5 or as many as, and alternating with,
the lobes of the corolla; carpels 2, more or less united into an entire or
2-4 lobed ovary ; cells 2; ovules 2 in each cell or cells 4, each 1 ovuled;
style 1 (or 2); stigma usually 2. Fruit composed of 4, 1-seeded nutlets,
the seed coat variously modified, or a drupe.
Eighty-five genera and about 1,500 species widely distributed.
Ehretia is the only known arborescent genus in China.
EMRETIA
Shrub or trees. Leaves alternate, entire or dentate, with or without
stiff hairs. Flowers perfect, pentamerous, small, white, in clusters or
rarely solitary in the axils of the upper leaves; calyx persistent in the
fruit; corolla rotate or cylindric with 5 narrow, rounded lobes; stamens
on the corolla, exserted or rarely included; ovary at first 1 celled, later
becoming imperfectly 4 celled by the development of 2 parietal placentae;
ovules 2 in each cell; style 2 or bifid. Fruit a small drupe, 2 (4) celled,
usually 4 seeded. The nutlets are bony and attached to a central
column.
About 50 species, mostly in the tropics. Two species in China. The
fruits are edible.
Ehretia acuminata R. Brown.
(Ehretia serrata Roxburgh)
Tree up to 15 m. tall with gray bark longitudinally fissured. Leaves
alternate, elliptic to oblong or acuminate, serrate, rounded at the base,
SCROPHULARIACEAE 287
nearly glabrous beneath, 8-15 cm. long. Flowers clustered in terminal
panicles or axillary with scattered, appressed hairs or glabrescent, small,
sessile, white, fragrant; corolla deeply 5 lobed ; style bifid. Drupe orange,
turning to red or nearly black when ripe; nutlets 2, each 2 celled and 2
seeded. .
Himalayas to China and Japan.
The wood of this and the following species is brown, with thick and
lighter colored sapwood, even grained, light, tough, strong and easily
worked. Carrying poles are often made from this wood. This tree is
sometimes called the heliotrope tree from the odor of the flowers which
resembles that of the heliotrope.
Ehretia macrophylla Wallich.
Tree 8-15 m. tall, glabrous or pubescent. Bark pale gray, fissured.
Leaves broadly elliptic or ovate-cordate, acute, serrate, bristly hairy
above, silky hairy beneath, 15-25 em. long. Flowers white, with ciliate
calyx, very fragrant, in terminal pubescent panicles. Fruit globose,
apiculate, obscurely 4 greoved, orange yellow, up to 1.5 cm. in diameter,
Himalayas to China. Kiangsi, Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan,
Kwangtung, Hainan. .
Ehretia longiflora Champion.
Tree. Leaves elliptic or oblong, acuminate, entire, the veins few
and scattered, glabrous, 6.5-10 cm. long. Flowers cymose, white or
pink; calyx minute; corolla about 10 mm. long, with spreading ovate
lobes; stamens exserted. Fruit globose, 6-8 mm. across, angular,
grooved, and 4 parted at maturity.
Kwangtung.
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Trees, shrubs or herbs. Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled,
simple, without stipules. Flowers perfect, more or less irregular. Calyx
persistent, 4-5 parted or lobed. Corolla hypogynous, the petals united
to form a bell shaped or 2 lobed limb; the upper lobe 2 parted, the
lower 3 parted. Stamens as many as, or fewer than the parts of the
corolla, usually 4, inserted on the corolla. Ovary superior, 2 celled;
style single, rarely bifid; ovules numerous. Fruit a capsule, rarely a
berry. Capsule 2 valved.
288 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
179 genera, about 2,500 species, distributed over the whole earth.
They are extremely varied in habit, ranging from aquatic, or parasitic
herbs to tall trees. Many genera are common garden plants, over 30
genera are cultivated for ornament in N. America. Several of the
Scrophulariaceae are medicinal, the most important being Digitalis pur-
purea, a powerful poison, a narcotic, and a heart stimulant.
PAULOWNIA
Trees with chambered pith and pale gray, shallowly fissured bark.
Leaves deciduous, rarely half evergreen, opposite, simple, entire or 3
lobed or coarsely toothed, long petioled, without stipules. Flowers in
terminal, erect panicles, appearing before or with the leaves. Calyx 5
lobed, campanulate; corolla in a slightly curved tube, unequally 5 lobed
at the apex. Stamens 4, included, attached to the corolla. Ovary
superior, 2 celled; ovules numerous. Style 1. Fruit a 2-celled, woody
or coriaceous, ovoid capsule, dehiscent loculicidally into 2 valves. Seeds
minute, numerous, surrounded by a translucent, finely grooved or
striated wing.
About 8 species in China. Introduced into cultivation in Europe,
America, and Japan.
The Paulownias are extremely rapid growing trees with stout
branches, large ornamental, white or purplish colored flowers, and woody
or membranous, 2 valved capsules enclosing numerous small seeds with
curious transparent striated wings which are very beautiful under the
lens. The conspicuous, woolly tomentose buds impart a picturesque
effect to the winter habit of the tree.
Paulownia tomentosa Koch.
(P. imperialis Siebold & Zuccarini.)
Tree 15 m. high. Leaves ovate, acuminate, cordate, entire or
occasionally 3 lobed, 18-20 cm. long, dark green, pubescent above, gray-
green, tomentose below; petiole 8-13 cm. long, tomentose. Panicles up
to 28 cm. long. Flowers large, 4-5 cm. long, fragrant, violet colored,
the lower lobes marked by dark spots and 2 yellow bands. Calyx and
peduncles densely brown tomentose. Capsule ovate, pointed, about 4 em.
long. Seeds minute.
Native of Central and Western China.
PAULOWNIA 289
Plate 99, PAULOWNIA TOMENTOSA Koch
1. Fruit; 2. Leaf; 3. Inflorescence; 4. Section of flower; 5. Seed-
ling; 6,7. Stamen; 8. Seed; 9. Section of fruit; 10. Section
.of corolla. (8 much enlarged.)
290 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Planted as an ornamental tree. Very rapid growing. The wood
was used in the olden days for the making of the lute. In Japan it
is used for making sandals, boxes, and clogs. The more compact fine-
grained specimens are esteemed for high grade furniture. The wood is
also suitable for making charcoal for gunpowder,
Paulownia fortunei (Seeman) Hemsley.
(Campsis fortunei Seeman.)
Tree 6 m. tall, Leaves subcoriaceous or membranous, ovate, or
cordate to ovate-oblong, acute or acuminate, dark green and glabrous
above, densely white tomentose beneath; petiole rounded, up to 12 cm.
long. Flowers long and narrow, about 10 em. long; calyx thick,
glabrous, except the lobes; corolla with rounded lobes, white, spotted
purple inside, oblique at the base. Fruit large, including calyx about
9 em. long, woody, crustaceous (hard and brittle). Seeds numerous,
about 6 mm. long,
KE. and §. E. China. (Shantung and Kwangtung). Distinguished
by the elongated leaves on long petioles, by the long narrow flowers, and
the large, woody capsules.
Paulownia duclouxii Dode.
Tree to 20 m. tall. Leaves ovate-oblong, tomentose beneath, to 30
em. long. Flowers about 8 em. Jong; corolla pale lavender, or white,
not spotted, gradually tapering towards the base; calyx glabrous except
the lobes, which are tomentose.
C. and 8. W. China.
Paulownia fargesii Franchet.
Tree to 20 m. tall. Branchlets shaggy hairy. Leaves entire or
sparsely and coarsely serrate, pubescent on both surfaces or glandular
above. Flowers about 6 cm. long, pale lavender or whitish, fragrant;
calyx tomentose, the lobes acutish, triangular ovate.
W. China.
Paulownia silvestrii Pampanini and Bonat.
Small tree. Leaves cordate, 8-13 cm. long, brownish tomentose
beneath. Flowers pale blue in leafy panicles; calyx densely tomentose,
with oblong obtuse scales. :
C. China.
BIGNONIACEAE ‘291
Paulownia thyrsoidea Rehder.
Tree to 6 m. tall. Branchlets and petioles pilose. Leaves ovate,
irregularly and sparsely serrate, usually truncate at the base, somewhat
pubescent, 10-15 cm. long. Flowers with the leaves, lavender, 4 cm.
long, in spike-like racemose panicles about 30 cm. long; calyx tomentose,
about 8 mm. long.
Hupeh and Fukien.
Other Chinese species are: —
P. glabrata Rehder. (Shensi.)
P. recurva Rehder. (W. Hupeh.)
- BIGNONIACEAE
Leaves usually opposite or whorled, compound or simple, without
stipules. Flowers perfect, more or Jess irregular or bilabiate. Calyx 5
cleft, bilabiate or spathe-like; corolla of 5 lobes, gamopetalous, hypogy-
nous. Stamens didynamous, or 2. Ovary superior, 2 celled, rarely 1
celled; ovules numerous; style 1; stigma 2. Fruit a capsule; seeds
usually winged, exalbuminous. :
100 genera and over 500 species. Many of them climbing plants,
largely eonfined to the tropical countries, but a few extending into the
temperate regio
Campsis chinensis—the trumpet vine, commonly cultivated in gardens,
characterized by handsome orange or scarlet flowers, belongs to this
family. Catalpa is the only arborescent genus in China.
CATALPA:
Trees. Leaves deciduous, simple, opposite or in whorls of 3’s,
entire or lobed, pinnately veined, long petiolate, without stipules.
Flowers perfect, in terminal panicles or corymbs. Calyx gamosepaloug,
splitting into 2 lobes when the flowers open. Corolla gamopetalous,
campanulate, 2 lipped, the upper lip, 2 lobed, the lower 3 lobed with
undulate margins, and variously marked and spotted on the inner surface.
Fertile stamens 2, inserted at the base of the corolla, included. Ovary
2 celled, sessile; style filiform, 2 lobed at the apex, somewhat longer
292 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Plate 100. CATALPA OVATA D. Don
1. Flowering branch; 2, Fruits; 3. Seed, enlarged.
BIGNONIACEAE 293
than the stamens. Ovules many. Fruit a long, cylindrical capsule
separating into 2 valves. Seeds numerous, with long tufted hairs at
each end.
About 10 species; 2 in America, 3 in the West Indies, and about 5
in China. Except the W. Indian species all have been introduced into
cultivation in Europe. The Catalpas are rapid growing ornamental
trees characterized by large, bell-shaped flowers. in panicles and long,
slender pod-like capsules. They are suitable for street and lawn,
and wood-lot planting. The wood is coarse and straight grained, soft
but durable in contact with the soil, used for posts and railroad ties.
The bark has a bitter property used in medicine as a tonic, diuretic
and vermifuge. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Comparatively free
from insect and fungous attacks.
Catalpa ovata D. Don.
(Catalpa keempferi Siebold & Zuecarini.)
(Catalpa henryi Dode.)
Tree 8 m. tall, sometimes 15 m. tall. Leaves 12-23 cm. long and
about as broad, ovate-cordate, short acuminate at the apex, rarely entire,
usually 8-5 lobed, somewhat pubescent, with tufted hairs on the veins
beneath, pale green, the nerves sometimes purplish; petioles with glands
and glandular hairs, 5-15 em. long. Inflorescence a much branched,
many flowered panicle, 10-22 cm. long. Flowers fragrant; corolla creamy
white marked with orange bands and purple spots, about 2.5 cm. long;
calyx glabrous. Capsules 17-30 cm. long, 6 mm. in diameter, thin
walled, splitting into 2 valves. Seeds 6-8 mm. long, grayish with long
tufted hairs at each end. <
Native of China, introduced into Japan by the Buddhist priests,
cultivated in European gardens. The tree has fragrant, showy flowers
and the leaves are without the disagreeable odor common to the other
members of the genus.
Catalpa bungei C. A. Meyer.
Tree 12 m. tall. Leaves glabrous, acuminate, narrowly triangular-
ovate, or deltoid-ovate, sometimes cuneate at the base, entire or with 1
to few lateral lobes or acute teeth at the base, purple spotted in the axils
of the veins beneath, 8-16 cm. long, usually less than 8 cm. broad.
294 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
Inflorescence a compact, 8-12 flowered corymb; flowers white, spotted
purple on the throat, up to 4cm. long. Capsule 30-45 em. long.
Chibli, Shantung, Shensi, Kweichow, and Yunnan. Common
around Peking.
Catalpa fargesii Bureau.
Tree to 16 m. tall. Branchlets, leaves and inflorescence pubescent
with branched hairs. Leaves ovate, acuminate, rounded at the base,
entire, slightly pubescent above, more or less pubescent or densely
yellowish tomentose beneath, 7-15 cm. long. Corymb 7-10 flowered, or
more often fewer flowered in the lower branches. Flowers 3 cm. long,
rosy-purple, with purplish-brown spots on the throat. Capsule 45-60
em. long.
Western China.
Catalpa vestita Diels.
Closely allied to the above. The leaves and flowers are smaller.
The under surface of the leaves is densely white tomentose.
May be only a form of C. fargesii.
Catalpa duclouxii Dode.
(C. gutchuenensis Dode.)
Tree to 25 m. tal]. Parts glabrous. Leaves ovate, acuminate, usually
rounded or subcordate at the base, with purple spots in the axils of the
veins beneath, 13-20 em. long, 10-13 cm. broad. Flowers rosy-pink
with orange spots on the throat, 4-4.5 em. long. Pods 60 cm. long.
Central China. Allied to C. fargesit.
RUBIACEAE
Trees, shrubs or herbs. Leaves simple, opposite or whorled, usually
entire, with stipules. Flowers perfect, rarely unisexual, regular,
rarely slightly unsymmetrical; calyx adnate to the ovary, 2-6 lobed, cut
or toothed, or absent; corolla gamopetalous, 4-6 lobed, nsually regular;
stamens 4-6, inserted on the corolla and alternate with its lobes; ovary
inferior, mostly 2 celled (1-many). Style simple or lobed. Fruit a
capsule, drupe or berry. Seeds various, albumen fleshy or horny or
absent.
RUBIACEAE 295
About 240 genera and 4,500 species, mostly in the tropics.
Included under this family are the Coffee and Chincona trees. From
the bark of the latter quinine is obtained. About 40 or 50 genera are
under cultivation, among them Gardenia (with waxy, camelia-like
flowers), Cephalanthus, a shrub, called the Button Bush on account of
its fragrant flowers which are in globular heads, Houstonia and Michella
are common garden favorites.
KEY TO GENERA
JI. Flowers in corymbose panicles, the inflorescence with a white
petaloid bract developed from me sepal of a flower persistent
in the fruit ..........02-20.05 ee ee -- Emmenopterys.
If. Flowers in globose heads, solitary or arranged in panicles;
inflorescences and fruit not accompanied by petaloid bract...
ee ee ee cai bb da ahs ale gas Ue Su Grale hence decades
ADINA
_ Trees or shrubs. Leaves petioled with large caducous stipules.
Flowers in solitary or panicled globose heads. Calyx tube angular, 5
parted; corolla tubular, 5 lobed; stamens 5, inserted on the mouth of the
corolla; ovary 2 celled; style filiform, with capitate stigma ; ovules many
in each cell. Fruit a capsule, dehiscent aie 2 valves, many seeded.
Seeds long, winged.
About 6 species in the tropics of Asia and America. At least 2 other
species are found in China in addition to the following.
Adina cordifolia Hooker.
Tree. Leaves coriaceous, orbicular, acuminate, cordate, pubescent
beneath, 10-13 cm. long. Inflorescence in a solitary head, about 2-3 cm.
in diameter, on a stout peduncle 2.5-5 em. long. Flowers yellow ; corolla
downy. Capsule cuneate, downy, about 4 mm. long, 6 seeded.
India to Yunnan.
Adina racemosa Miquel.
Tree to 15 m. tall. Leaves ovate to oblong, acuminate, shiny,
glabrous. Inflorescence capitate. Fruit in racemes.
296 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES
EMMENOPTERYS
Trees. Leaves deciduous, opposite, petiolate, ovate-elliptic,
acuminate, cuneate, entire, somewhat coriaceous; stipules caducous.
Inflorescence many flowered, corymbose, arranged in a terminal panicle.
Flowers white; corolla bell shaped, 5 lobed, narrowed below into a
cylindrical tube; calyx limb 5 lobed, ciliate, deciduous; stamens 5,
included, inserted on the corolla; ovary 2 celled; style filiform ; ovules
numerous. A white leafy bract is appendaged to at least one flower in
every corymb and persists on the fruit. Capsule woody, oblong-ovoid
to cylindric, tapering at both ends, splitting partly into 2 valves ; seeds
numerous, minute, surrounded by a finely reticulated pithy wing.
Only one species known. The fruit is remarkable on account of the
large wing-like petaloid bract attached to it. This appendage is devel-
oped from the bract of the flower.
Emmenopterys henryi Oliver.
Glabrous tree up to 26 m. tall and 1 m. in diameter, with scaly bark
when young and rough gray bark at maturity. Leaves 10-16 cm. long,
5-11 cm. wide; petiole 2.5-5 cm. long. Bract to 5em. long. Corolla
about 2.5 em. wide. Fruit 2.5-5 cm. long.
Western China.
This tree is characterized by opposite, entire leaves, showy white
flowers in corymbs of which one flower in every cluster is appendaged
with a large, white leafy bract which turns pink as the fruit ripens.
The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule splitting imperfectly into two valves
liberating numerous small, imperfectly winged seeds.
This has been described as one of the most beautiful trees of the
Chinese forests because of its large white flowers and white bracts which
later turn pink and persist on the fruit.
TABLE OF MEASUREMENTS
1 meter = 10 decimeters
1 decimeter = 10 centimeters
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
(Approximate English Equivalents)
1m. =8 ft. 3% in.
0.15 em. = +5 in.
0.1 cm. = x in
0.2 em. = qs in
0.3 cm. == in
0.4 cm. = Yin
0.56 cm.= gin
0.6 cm. = 4 in
0.8 cm. = 4 in
5 cm, =2 in,
lom.—= #in.
1.2cm.— % in
1.5 em. Zin
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
A-, Prefixed to a Greek word, without, e. g. apetalous, without petals.
Abortive. Imperfectly developed, or much reduced in size and efficiency.
Accrescent. Increasing in size with age.
Achene (akene). A small, hard, dry, 1 celled (1 seeded) indehiscent
fruit.
Acicular. Needle-shaped; slender, stiff and pointed,
Acuminate. Gradually tapering to a point, the sides incurved.
Acute. Sharply and shortly pointed, the sides straight.
Adnate. Congenitally united. The subordinate one of two connate parts
is said to be adnate to the other.
Aystivation. The arrangement of the parts of the flower in the bud.
Aggregate. A compound fruit developed from several carpels of one
flower crowded in a mass.
Albumen. Food material stored within the seed surrounding the embryo.
Alternate. The arrangement of the leaves and other parts of a plant ina
spiral, not opposite or whorled.
Ament. A catkin; a slender, dense spike of flowers, usually scaly and
deciduous in one piece.
Amphitropous. Said of a straight and half inverted ovule with the hilum
or scar on one side intermediate between the micropyle and chalaza.
Anatropous. Said of a straight ovule or seed that is inverted, with the
micropyle next the hilum or scar, and the chalaza on the opposite side.
Androgynous. An inflorescence composed of both male and female flowers.
Angiospermae. Plants with the ovule in a closed ovary; seeds borne in a
pericarp.
Anther. The part of the stamen which bears the pollen.
Anthesis. The time of the expansion of the flower.
Apetalous. Without petals.
Apex. The top or summit of an organ.
Apiculate. Ending in a short tip or point.
Apophysis. An enlargement or swelling on the surface of an organ.
Appressed. Pressed to the stem.
Aril or arillus. An extraneous seed coat or outer covering developed from
the funicle of the seed, sometimes fleshy.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS 299
Arillate. Provided with an aril.
Aristate. Provided with awns or hair-like points.
Armed. Provided with thorns, spines, barbs or prickles.
Articulate. Jointed.
Ascending. Directed upwards.
Auricled or auriculate. Provided with an ear-shaped appendage or organ.
Awn. A bristle-like organ.
Axii. The angle on the upper side between the leaf and the stem.
Axillary. Borne in an axil.
Axis, The main or central line of a plant or an organ.
Baccate. Berry-like.
Berry. A fleshy, indehiscent, few to many seeded fruit.
Bi-. In acompound word meaning 2 or twice.
Bipinnate. Twice pinnate.
Bladdery. Inflated like a bladder.
Blade. The expanded or broad part of a leaf.
Bloom. The whitish waxy covering on some fruits, as in the plum.
Bract. The scale-like leaf associating with the inflorescence.
Bracteate. With bracts.
Bracteolate. With bractlets.
Bractlet or Bracteole. The bract of an ultimate flower stalk or pedicel.
Branch.