Stewartia ovata
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| Stewartia ovata (Cav.) Weatherby |
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Stewartia ovata (Mountain Camellia; also Stuartia ovata) is a species of Stewartia native to low to mid-elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains. A relative of the evergreen Camellias of Asia, other common names include summer dogwood and Mountain Stewartia.
It is a deciduous flowering shrub or small tree growing to 5 m tall, with smooth, flaking grayish-orange bark. The leaves are oval with an acute apex, 7-13 cm long and 3-6 cm broad, and turn orange, red, or gold when the tree becomes dormant in the fall. The flowers are camellia-like, 6-12 cm diameter, with five white petals and numerous white, yellow or purple stamens; they appear in early to mid-summer.
There are two varieties:
- Stewartia ovata var. ovata. Flowers 6-8 cm diameter, stamens white to yellow.
- Stewartia ovata var. grandiflora (W.J.Bean) Weatherby. Flowers up to 12 cm diameter, stamens purple.
Although not endangered, the plant does have a limited range and is considered to be rare. Mountain Camellia grows in the understory of predominately hardwood forests and tends to be found near streams, usually at elevations below 800 m (2,500 feet).
