Franklinia

Blossom of a Frank line ( Franklinia alatamaha )

The Frank line ( Franklinia alatamaha ), also called Franklin tree is the only species of the monotypic genus within the family of Franklinia Teestrauchgewächse ( Theaceae ). When synonyms are found: Franklinia alatama Raf, Gordonia franklinii L' Hér, Gordonia pubescens L' Hér .. was named the type after the river Altamaha River to the south of the USA.. .

Description

Frank The line is a deciduous shrub or small tree, the branches already at the bottom. This species can reach stature heights of 10 m. The bark is smooth. The simple, dark green, glossy leaves are about 20 cm long. In autumn the foliage in different red, purple or orange colored. He is famous by its creamy white, cup -shaped flowers that reach a diameter of 7 to 12 cm. The petals are waxy. The stamens are golden. The flowering period, the end of September reached its peak, lasts from July to autumn. The sweet-smelling fragrance has a hint of orange blossom.

History

The " Franklin Tree", as he is known since 1785 in honor of American politician Benjamin Franklin, was Georgia, United States discovered in October 1765 by John Bartram and his son William at the mouth of the Altamaha River in McIntosh County. In 1803, the last copy of this tree was seen by the British nurseryman and plant hunter John Lyon in the wilderness. As a cause of extinction is considered a fungal disease that has spread through infected cotton. Thanks to the efforts of Bartram's this tree exists today in some gardens of the USA, New Zealand, Canada and Europe. They were the first who collected seedlings and saplings and this tree thus saved before the final extinction.

Today, gardeners can from around the world on the grounds of Bartram 's Garden in Pennsylvania, the former estate of Bartram, let own tree register online. In 1998, a worldwide census of existing copies under the name " Franklinia Census " conducted: The count was about 2000 copies in gardens, botanical gardens or parks around the world, all of whom are descendants of the trees that once planted the Bartram in their garden have.

In German "art gardening" ( an outdated name since the 19th century ), this type is called " Frank line." According to the statistics of the Census Franklinia in Germany there are 9 copies, including one in the Botanical Garden Bochum.

In the first description Franklinia was still classified in the genus Gordonia. In 1785, there was in France a dispute about the classification. While they used the new name Franklinia alatamaha in the U.S., they remained in Europe until the 20th century when the old name Gordonia pubescens or Gordonia alatamaha.