Osmanthus

Several small inflorescences on the branch of Osmanthus fragrans

The scent of flowers ( Osmanthus ) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae ( Oleaceae ).

Description

The Osmanthus species grow as evergreen shrubs or trees. The opposite leaves are undivided and constant stalked. The leaf margin is smooth or serrated.

The zymösen inflorescences are bundled in the leaf axils or the flowers are in short paniculate inflorescences. There are two bracts. The flowers of all kinds smell sweet ( hence the name). The four-fold, radial symmetry flowers are hermaphroditic usually. The four sepals are fused bell-shaped. The four fused petals are usually white or yellowish. There are only two (rarely four) stamens present. They are drupes.

Dissemination

All species except the native to North America Osmanthus americanus from Asia. Most species are widespread in Southeast Asia.

Use

Above all the flowers of the sweet osmanthus ( Osmanthus fragrans ) are used in Asia as a widely-used spice: In the tea blend " Chin Hsuan Cha " osmanthus be mixed to green tea; as they are added to the fragrance of wine as an ingredient.

System

The first description of the Portuguese missionary and botanist João de Loureiro was published in 1790. The genus includes about 30 to 40 species. Here is a selection types:

  • American Osmanthus ( Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth & Hook f ex A. Gray, Syn. . Olea americana L.)
  • Osmanthus armatus Diels: The home is China (Hubei, Sichuan )
  • Osmanthus attenuatus PSGreen: The home is Turkey, Armenia and Georgia
  • Osmanthus cooperi Hemsl. The home is China ( Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), where it grows at altitudes of 400 to 800 meters
  • Osmanthus decorus ( Boiss. & Balansa ) Kasapligil ( syn.. Phillyrea decora Boiss & Balansa )
  • Osmanthus delavayi Franch. ( Syn: Siphonosmanthus delavayi ( Franch. ) Stapf ): The home is China ( Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan )
  • Osmanthus didymopetalus PSGreen: The home is China (Hainan )
  • Osmanthus enervius Masam. & K.Mori: The home is Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan
  • Osmanthus fordii Hemsl.
  • Sweet Osmanthus ( Osmanthus fragrans Lour. ) ( Syn: Osmanthus aurantiacus ( Makino ) Nakai, Osmanthus fragrans var aurantiacus Makino, Osmanthus fragrans var thunbergii Makino )
  • Osmanthus gracilinervis LCChia ex RLLu: The home is India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan and China ( Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan )
  • Osmanthus hainanensis PSGreen: The home is China (Hainan )
  • Osmanthus henryi PSGreen: The home is China ( Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan )
  • Stachelblättrige Osmanthus ( Osmanthus heterophyllus ( G.Don ) PSGreen, Syn: .. Ilex heterophylla G.Don, Olea aquifolium Siebold & Zucc, Olea ilicifolia Siebold ex Hassk and Osmanthus ilicifolius ( Hassk. ) hort ex Carrière. ): The home is Japan and Taiwan
  • Osmanthus lanceolatus Hayata: The home is Taiwan, where it grows at altitudes of 2000 to 3000 meters
  • Osmanthus marginatus ( Champ. ex Benth. ) Hemsl. The home is China, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan
  • Osmanthus matsumuranus Hayata: The home is India, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China
  • Osmanthus minor PSGreen: The home is China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Zhejiang)
  • Osmanthus pubipedicellatus LCChia ex HTChang: The home is China ( Guangdong)
  • Osmanthus reticulatus PSGreen: The home is China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan )
  • Osmanthus serrulatus Rehder: The home is China (Fujian, Guangxi, Sichuan )
  • Osmanthus suavis King ex CBClarke: The home is India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and China ( Xizang, Yunnan )
  • Osmanthus urceolatus PSGreen: The home is China (Hubei, Sichuan )
  • Osmanthus venosus Pamp. The home is China ( Hubei)
  • Osmanthus yunnanensis ( Franch. ) PSGreen ( Syn: Osmanthus forrestii Rehder and Pittosporum yunnanense Franch. ): The home is China ( Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan ).

In addition, several horticultural hybrids were bred:

  • Spring Osmanthus ( Osmanthus x burkwoodii ( Burkwood & Skipwith ) PSGreen ): It is a hybrid O. × O. decorus delavayi, Syn: × Osmarea burkwoodii Burkwood & Skipwith:
  • Osmanthus × fortunei Carrière: It is a hybrid of O. fragrans × O. heterophyllus This hybrid is hardy.

Swell

  • Description from Flora of China (English )
  • Short description in Flora of Pakistan (English )

Single References

Asterids Agricultural Research Service
249151
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