Heptacodium miconioides
Habit
Heptacodium miconioides, also known as Seven - sons - of - heaven - shrub, is the only species of the genus Heptacodium from the family of Honeysuckle ( Caprifoliaceae ). The species grows shrub-like and comes in only a few Chinese provinces before naturally. It is sometimes used for their flowers as ornamental plant.
Description
Heptacodium miconioides is a deciduous, 3 to 5 meters, rarely 7 meters tall shrub with bark becomes loose and reddish brown, sparsely hairy young twigs and buds.
The leaves are arranged and have an approximately 10 mm long stem. The leaf blade is simple, 8-15 cm long and 5-9 cm wide, leathery, oblong ovate acuminate, caudate, and with heart- shaped base and ganzrandigem or wide and shallow gebuchtetem margin. The edges are usually bent upwards, so that the leaf surface is boat-shaped. The upper leaf surface is dull dark green, the underside lighter and slightly hairy on the veins. Besides the midrib there is ever a weaker, running parallel side nerve. The fall color of the foliage is purple-brown.
The flowers are usually arranged in groups of six in panicle, 5-15 cm long and 5-9 cm wide inflorescences, which are formed at this year's long shoots. The partial inflorescences are long-stalked and repeatedly in three parts. The individual flowers are white, hermaphroditic, very fragrant and fünfzählig. The calyx is small, purple and binding. It increases up to fruit maturity of 2 to 2.5 millimeters to 7 to 10 millimeters. The five petals are narrow and long, with white stamens.
When fruits are single-seeded, formed one inch long, oblong- shaped roller nuts. These are surrounded at the start of pink to pupurpurnen sepals. The seeds to reach a length of 5 to 6 mm.
The species flowers from July to September and the fruits ripen from September to November.
Single leaf
Inflorescence
Insect food in autumn
Fruit stand
Distribution and ecology
The course distribution area of Heptacodium miconioides lies in the three Chinese provinces of Anhui, Hubei and Zhejiang. There, the species grows in steppes and dry forests in 600 to 1000 meters above sea level on fresh, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline, sandy- loamy to loamy, moderately fertile soil in full sun to light shade locations. The species is thermophilic and usually frost hardy.
In the IUCN Red List Heptacodium miconioides is listed as endangered ( "vulnerable "). It is noted, however, that a re-examination of risk is necessary. The holdings decrease mainly due to the indiscriminate felling of forests.
Systematics and history of research
Heptacodium miconioides is the only species of the monotypic genus therefore Heptacodium in the family of Honeysuckle ( Caprifoliaceae ), subfamily Capri Folio ideae. Alfred Rehder has the kind and the genus first described in 1916. The origin of his chosen genre name is unclear. It could be derived from the Greek " hepta " for " seven " and " Kodia " for " poppy head " and refer to the ovary formed from seven carpels. A synonym of the species is Heptacodium jasminoides Airy Shaw.
Use
Heptacodium miconioides is sometimes used due to the decorative flowers as an ornamental plant.