Pterostyrax Explained

Pterostyrax, the epaulette tree, is a small genus of four species of deciduous large shrubs or small trees in the family Styracaceae, native to eastern Asia in China and Japan. They grow 4- tall, with alternate, simple ovate leaves 6- long and 4- broad. The flowers are white, produced in dense panicles 8- long. The fruit is an oblong dry drupe, with longitudinal ribs or narrow wings (the wings are absent in the related genus Styrax, whence the name Pterostyrax, "winged styrax").[1] [2] [3]

Species

The species names are frequently given with feminine gender ("corymbosa", etc.); however, the genus is correctly of masculine gender.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Fritsch . Peter W. . Morton . Cynthia M. . Chen . Tao . Meldrum . Candice . Phylogeny and biogeography of the Styracaceae . International Journal of Plant Sciences . 2001 . 162 . S6 . S95–S116 . 10.1086/323418 . 323418 .
  2. Germplasm Resources Information Network: Pterostyrax
  3. Flora of China: Pterostyrax