Stewartia malacodendron

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Silky camellia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Theaceae Genus: Stewartia Species: S. malacodendron
Binomial name
Stewartia malacodendron L.

Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Stewartia or Silky camellia or Virginia stewartia) is a species of plant in the genus Stewartia and family Theaceae. It grows slowly into a large deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 3 to 4.5 meters tall, but sometimes as tall as 9 meters. It is native from southeastern United States from the Coastal Plain area, found growing on the side of streams, ravines and wooded bluffs in well draining soils.

[edit] Description

Silky camellia is an under-story woodland species with rich brown colored bark. The young stems are hairy, the buds are covered by two overlapping scales with silver hairs. The branches tend to grow with a horizontal orientation from the main stem with the foliage produced on shorter stems branching off these horizontally orientated branches.^[1] The alternately arranged, dark green, simple leaves are 50 to 100 mm long (2 to 4 inches) with finely toothed margins covered with fine hairs on the undersides, especially on the veins. The leaves are ovate to elliptical in shape with sharp pointed tips. The flowers are 60-90 mm wide(2.5 to 3.5 inches),^[2] showy with five white colored petals. The stamens have purple filaments and blue colored anthers that fill the middle of flat, cup shaped corollas. The flowers are born singularly from the leaf axils on short stalks with two floral bracts (2-4 mm long) that remain after flowering is done. Flowers with five green sepals each 8-11 mm long and 5-9 mm wide. Blooming in July and August in the northern part of its range and blooming in April in the southern part of its range.^[3] Rounded, woody seed capsules are produced after flowering, each capsule with 4-5 chambers and if fertilized, each chamber has 2-4 seeds.^[4] The wingless seeds are full, ovoid in shape and purplish to reddish-brown in color with a shiny sheen, each seed is 5-7 mm long and 4-6 mm wide.

S. malacodendron is native to Texas were it is rare, found native from a small area along Little Cow creek near Burkeville, blooming in April and May. S. malacodendron is also found in scattered locations in the states of Arkansas, Georgia, Florida (panhandle region), Louisiana and southern Alabama and as far north as Virginia.^[5] This tree species is listed as endangered in the US states of Arkansas and Florida.^[6]

'Silky camellia' has been cultivated in the US since 1752, though it is not a common garden subject. Plants have a slow growth rate, are difficult to transplant and are a challenge to propagate. It grows best in partial shade in well draining soils.

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