Emmenopterys henryi
| Emmenopterys henryi | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Emmenopterys |
| Species: | E. henryi
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| Binomial name | |
| Emmenopterys henryi | |
| Synonyms | |
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Emmenopterys henryi is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is found in the temperate parts of central and southern China and in Vietnam. It is a deciduous tree with opposite leaves and can attain heights of 45 m (148 ft) and grow to be 1000 years old.[citation needed] The epithet is named after the Irish botanist and sinologist Augustine Henry. The trees may not flower until they are 30–100 years old, and flowering seems to be triggered by a long hot summer. Many inflorescences are accompanied by a large white bract.[1]
Emmenopterys henryi in Europe
[edit]The first introduction to Europe was 1907 to England by Ernest Wilson.[2][3] They are noted for their rare flowering. The first time that Emmenopterys henryi flowered in mainland Europe was 1971 in the arboretum of Villa Taranto on Lago Maggiore, Italy.[2][3] At Borde Hill Garden, West Sussex, UK there are 2 specimens with the older planted in 1928 from seed collected by George Forrest which flowered in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2018; the smaller specimen has flowered 3 times and was planted in 1976 from micropropagation of the Kew specimen that was in poor condition due to the drought.[4][5] A specimen in Cambridge flowered in 2012, after 30 years, only the fifth flowering in the UK.[6] In 2013, a tree flowered for the fourth time in the Arboretum Kalmthout in Belgium. This was unexpected, since the flowers only appeared in September, which is quite late.[7] After the 2018 heatwave in the UK, a 100 year old specimen in Roath Park, Cardiff flowered for the first time ever.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Emmenopterys henryi". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Ente Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto". Archived from the original on 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ a b "Emmenopterys henryi". Quarryhill Botanical Garden. 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Rare tree at Borde Hill Garden to bloom for 4th time in 90 years". Retrieved 2018-08-12.
- ^ Brown, Paul (2011-08-28). "Weatherwatch: Emmenopterys henryi blossoms". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
- ^ "Rare Chinese tree flowers in Cambridge after 30-year wait". BBC News Online. 15 September 2012.
- ^ "De Emmenopterys plots opnieuw in bloei in Kalmthout". 2013. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
- ^ "Roath Park's rare Chinese tree flowers in heatwave". BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
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