Corylopsis sinensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
Genus: | Corylopsis |
Species: | C. sinensis
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Binomial name | |
Corylopsis sinensis |
Corylopsis sinensis, the Chinese winter hazel ( simplified Chinese: 蜡瓣花; traditional Chinese: 蠟瓣花; pinyin: là bàn huā), [2] is a species of flowering plant in the witch-hazel family Hamamelidaceae, native to western China. Growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall and broad, it is a substantial deciduous shrub. With ovate leaves, it produces delicately fragrant, drooping racemes of pale yellow flowers with orange anthers in spring. [3]
The Latin specific epithet sinensis means "Chinese" or "of China". [4]
The Latin meaning of Corylopsis refers to its resemblance of the genus, making it a very classic example for Corylopsis. [5]
There are four varieties and one form recorded:- [6]
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental. Though hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F), it prefers a sheltered spot in acidic soil. Both C. sinensis var. calvescens f. veitchiana [7] and C. sinensis var. sinensis [8] are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.