Two-wing silverbell
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Styracaceae
Genus: Halesia
Species:
H. diptera
Binomial name
Halesia diptera

Halesia diptera, the two-wing silverbell or two-winged snowdrop tree, is a species in the family Styracaceae, native to the southeastern United States from South Carolina and Florida west to eastern Texas.[2] It is cultivated as an ornamental tree.

Description

It is a large shrub or small tree reaching 4–8 m tall. The leaves are deciduous, 6–12 cm long and 4–7 cm broad. The flowers are white, 2-2.5 cm long, produced in clusters of 3–6 together. The fruit is a dry (non-fleshy) drupe with two wings down the sides; this distinguishes it from the other species of Halesia, which have four wings on the fruit.[3]

Wildlife, including squirrels, eat the unripe sour green fruit.[4]

Varieties

There are two varieties:[2]

  • Halesia diptera var. diptera
  • Halesia diptera var. magniflora R.K.Godfrey
Mature tree in flower

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Halesia diptera.
  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; et al. (BGCI) (2020). "Halesia diptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T152857713A152905527. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T152857713A152905527.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Halesia diptera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  4. ↑ Little, Elbert L. (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. p. 639. ISBN 0-394-50760-6.
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