Halesia tetraptera

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Carolina silverbell

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Styracaceae
Genus: Halesia
Species: H. diptera
Binomial name
Halesia tetraptera
J.Ellis

Halesia tetraptera (Common Silverbell[1] or Carolina Silverbell; syn. Halesia carolina auct. non L.[2]) is a species in the family Styracaceae, native to the southeastern United States.

It is a small deciduous tree growing to 10 m tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 5–16 cm long and 4–7 cm broad. The flowers are 1–2.5 cm long, with a four-lobed white corolla. The fruit is a dry drupe 4 cm long, with four wings running along its length.[1][3][4]

Some botanists treat Halesia monticola as a variety of H. tetraptera.[5] This taxon is much larger, up to 20–39 m tall, with larger leaves up to 20 cm long and flowers up to 3 cm long.[6]

It is cultivated as an ornamental tree.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b KY State Nature Preserves Commission: Halesia tetraptera
  2. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Halesia tetraptera
  3. ^ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  4. ^ Bioimages: Halesia tetraptera
  5. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Halesia tetraptera var. monticola
  6. ^ Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
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