Osmanthus armatus explained

Osmanthus armatus, also known by the common name devil wood^[1] or Chinese vernacular name 红柄木犀 (Hóng bǐng mùxī)^[2] is a species in the genus Osmanthus in the family Oleaceae. It is native to China,^{[3] [4] [5]} specifically the west or central and southeast.

The species was introduced into the UK via Veitch Nurseries in 1902 by Wilson, who collected it during one of his trips to China.

Description

A woody evergreen which ranges in size from a shrub to a small tree, reaching 8–15 feet high at maturity.

Though the young leaves are conspicuously spiny, spines are often entirely absent from the mature, adult leaves.

White blooms appear in axillary clusters in autumn.

Etymology

Osmanthus is derived from Greek and means 'fragrant flower'.^[6]

Armatus means 'armed' or 'thorny'.

Notes and References

1. Missouri Botanic Garden. Available at: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=301075&isprofile=0& [accessed 13/02/21]
2. Flora of China via efloras. Available at: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=210001385 [accessed 13/02/21]
3. Trees and Shrubs Online. Available at: https://treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/osmanthus/osmanthus-armatus/ [accessed 13/02/21]
4. RHS Plants. Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/11980/Osmanthus-armatus/Details [accessed 13/02/21]
5. Plants of the World Online. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:610852-1 [accessed 13/02/21]
6. Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 56, 285