Firmiana simplex
Encyclopedia
Firmiana simplex, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree or wutong is an ornamental plant
or tree of the cacao, or chocolate, of the family Sterculiaceae
of the order Malvales
, native to Asia
. It grows to a height of 12 m (40 feet). It has alternate, deciduous
leaves up to 30 cm (12 inches) across and small greenish white flowers that are borne in clusters. It is grown as an ornamental in warm regions of North America
.
Recent publications mention the species as an aggressive and invasive weed in the warmer parts of North America. They urge its removal and give instructions for drastic measures, including destruction of nursery stock. The plant is self-fertile and its seeds spread readily, especially along watercourses, and they germinate and grow rapidly. They compete effectively, smothering many other species.
Due to its superior sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the guqin
and guzheng
.
According to an article in the journal Nature of 1884, the leaves of Sterculia platanifolia were dried for smoking; the reason for for smoking it was not given, but another source simply says that it was used as a substitute for tobacco.http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/bombay-presidency-government-central-museum/useful-plants-of-japan-described-and-illustrated-hci/page-7-useful-plants-of-japan-described-and-illustrated-hci.shtmlhttp://www.archive.org/details/plantsofjapan00agririch
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
or tree of the cacao, or chocolate, of the family Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
of the order Malvales
Malvales
Malvales are an order of flowering plants. As circumscribed by APG II-system, it includes about 6000 species within nine families. The order is placed in the eurosids II, which are part of the eudicots....
, native to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. It grows to a height of 12 m (40 feet). It has alternate, deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
leaves up to 30 cm (12 inches) across and small greenish white flowers that are borne in clusters. It is grown as an ornamental in warm regions of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Recent publications mention the species as an aggressive and invasive weed in the warmer parts of North America. They urge its removal and give instructions for drastic measures, including destruction of nursery stock. The plant is self-fertile and its seeds spread readily, especially along watercourses, and they germinate and grow rapidly. They compete effectively, smothering many other species.
Due to its superior sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the guqin
Guqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
and guzheng
Guzheng
The guzheng or "gu zheng", also called zheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It has 18-23 or more strings and movable bridges....
.
According to an article in the journal Nature of 1884, the leaves of Sterculia platanifolia were dried for smoking; the reason for for smoking it was not given, but another source simply says that it was used as a substitute for tobacco.http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/bombay-presidency-government-central-museum/useful-plants-of-japan-described-and-illustrated-hci/page-7-useful-plants-of-japan-described-and-illustrated-hci.shtmlhttp://www.archive.org/details/plantsofjapan00agririch
External links
- Firmiana simplex - The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Firmiana simplex - Louisiana State University