| English Name | Kwangtung Rehdertree |
|---|---|
| Status in China | Vulnerable (VU) |
Description:
Deciduous tree to 15 m tall; branchlets brown to reddish brown, glossy. Leaves alternate, papery to leathery, elliptic, 7-16 cm long and 3-8 cm wide, apex short acuminate, base cuneate, margin remotely serrate, glabrous or slightly stellate and villose on veins. Racemes axillary, ca. 7 cm long, grayish yellow stellate pubescent. Flowers white; calyx campanulate, 5-ribbed, ca. 6 mm long, 5-toothed; corolla 5 lobed, lobes ovate, 20-25 mm long, stellate pubescent on both surfaces; stamens 10, unequal. Drupes oblong, obvoid or ellipsoid, 4.5-8 ?2.5-4 cm, 5-10 ribbed.
Distribution:
Ng Tung Chai, Kwun Yam Shan. Guangdong, S Hunnan, Guangxi and SE Yunnan.
Habitat and Ecology:
In forest. Flowering: Mar.-Apr.; fruiting: Jul.-Sept.
The species is endemic to China, while Hong Kong is its southern-most extension of distribution. The beautiful white flowers make it an attractive ornamental plant. In Hong Kong, the population size is small and its natural reproduction is very poor because of the low germination rate of seed. However, the localities of its occurrence are within Country Parks under protection. The species has also been listed as protected species under the Forestry Regulations (Cap. 96 sub. leg.).
References:
Chun, W. Y., 1934: Contributions to the Flora of Kwangtung and South-Eastern China (I). Sunyatsenia 1(4):290, pl.38.
黃淑美，1987: 中國植物誌60（2）：136，圖版47。科學出版社，北京。
