Corylopsis sinensis

Corylopsis sinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Hamamelidaceae
Genus:	Corylopsis
Species:	C. sinensis
Binomial name
Corylopsis sinensis Hemsl.[1]

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]

• Corylopsis sinensis var. calvescens
• Corylopsis sinensis var. glandulifera
• Corylopsis sinensis var. parvifolia
• Corylopsis sinensis var. sinensis
• Corylopsis sinensis fo. veitchiana

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.

References

1. "Corylopsis sinensis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
2. "Corylopsis sinensis". Flora of China – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
3. "Corylopsis sinensis". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
4. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
5. Bayton, Ross (2020-03-10). The Gardener's Botanical. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-20913-5.
6. "Corylopsis sinensis". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden.
7. "Corylopsis sinensis var. calvescens f. veitchiana". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
8. "Corylopsis sinensis var. sinensis". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.