Tree Directory

Moon Orchid

2012-01-17T17:40:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Phalaenopsis amabilis
Common Names: Moon Orchid, Moth Orchid, Butterfly Plant, Anggrek Bulan (Indonesia)
Plant Type: Small-size vines flower.
Height: 12-18 inch (30-45 cm). Flowers can grow up to 10cm even more.
Native Habitat: Grow in warm conditions. Way of life with a stick in epiphyte on trunk or branches of trees in rainforest and lives up to 600 meters above sea level. Can also be maintained in a pot in medium fir bark and keep in partial shade. Water about once a week. Keep plant fairly moist but not wet.
Native Range: This species is usually found in the eastern to the Southeastern regions of Asia. Plants in this genus are typically widespread in the areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua, up to Australia.
Conservation Status: This plant in Indonesia is categorized as a protected plant. This is done as an effort to maintain the viability of this plant.

Related Species:

Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. amabilis (Indonesia to Papuasia).
Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. amabilis forma Grandiflora (Philippines - Palawan island).
Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. moluccana (Northeastern Borneo to the Moluccas).
Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. rosenstromii (New Guinea to Queensland).

Flowering Time: Orchids are sporadic bloomers and, if happy, could flower up to 3 times each year.

Moon Orchid was first discovered on a small island off the east coast of New Guinea by local botanists Georgius Rumphius Everhardus in 1653, but he called it Angraecum majus ablum. It remained undiscovered until 1825, when Karl Ludwig Blume discovered in the same way and gave him the name is known by now. Phalaenopsis amabilis included in monopodial orchids are like little natural light as a supporter of his life. Green leaves with elongated shapes. The roots are white and elongated round shape and fleshy feel. Most are epiphytic shade plants. In the wild they are typically found below the canopies of moist and humid lowland forests, protected against direct sunlight, but equally in seasonally dry or cool environments. The species have adapted individually to these three habitats.

Phalaenopsis amabilis are the largest family of flowering plants. The numerous hybrids of mainly tropical origin are of great horticultural significance. The wild ancestor species of many of these hybrids are now endangered because of habitat destruction, especially through the loss of tropical lowland and montane primary forest . Phalaenopsis hybrids have great economic value as house and garden plants as well as cut flowers. Recently, many wild species of Phalaenopsis amabilis are extremely rare in nature because of habitat loss as well as overcollection. Phalaenopsis amabilis, with its large white flowers, is one of the most important ancestor species of Phalaenopsis hybrids. These hybrids are usually clonally propagated. A problem in this respect is the circumstance that seedlings initially form only a single vegetative shoot. Development of a method for improving orchids through genetic modification could be extremely valuable for horticulture and, indirectly, also for conservation. Establishment of transformation methods for Phalaenopsis amabilis is important to understand functions of genes and to manipulate them in orchids.

Uses

Many people use this plant as an ornamental plant, because this plant has a very beautiful flower. On the other hand these plants began to be threatened in their natural habitat. This causes the market price of these plants become quite expensive.

Mountain Holly

2012-01-15T14:36:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Ilex montana
Common Names: Mountain Holly, Mountain Winterberry, Big-leaf Holly

Plant Type: Deciduous small-tree.
Height: Up to 30 feet.
Native Habitat: Understory and openings in hardwood forests.
Native Range: Mostly mountainous areas from southern New England south almost to the Gulf Coast.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Ilex montana as Critically Imperiled in Massachusetts and New Jersey, and possibly Vulnerable in Mississippi. The species is officially classified as Threatened by Massachusetts, Endangered by New Jersey, and Exploitably Vulnerable by New York.
Cultivation: Give this plant moist slightly-acid soil with good drainage. It can survive in shade, but will grow faster and produce more berries in a sunny spot.
Related Species: The best-known relative in the United States is the American Holly (Ilex opaca), one of the most cold-hardy large evergreens and an excellent landscaping plant. Nurseries sometimes sell special female cultivars with glossy leaves and abundant berry production. Two smaller evergreens, Dahoon (Ilex cassine) and Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) grow in coastal areas of the Southeast. The most common native deciduous species is Possomhaw (Ilex decidua). Many other hollies can be found in Europe, Asia, and other regions.

Ilex montana is a small deciduous tree found mostly at high elevations from southern New England to Georgia. The species is notable for having the largest berries of any native holly, up to one-half inch thick. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 9–12 m tall. The leaves are 3-9 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, light green, ovate or oblong, wedge-shaped or rounded at the base and acute at apex, with a serrated margin and an acuminate apex; they do not suggest the popular idea of a holly, with no spines or bristles.

The leaves turn yellow before dropping in late autumn. The flowers are 4–5 mm diameter, with a four-lobed white corolla, appearing in late spring when the leaves are more than half grown. The fruit is a spherical bright red drupe 8-10 mm diameter, containing four seeds. Usually these berries are orange-red, but red and yellow forms are sometimes seen. They are more oblong than the berries of most hollies. The bark of the tree is an attractive reddish-brown, and its leaves generally turn yellow before dropping in late autumn. As with other hollies, a plant is either male or female, and a female won't produce berries unless a male is nearby. This is a good choice for a semi-wild area in open woods.

Because the sexes of young plants are difficult to determine, you should plant at least four or five specimens and hope that some are female. Actually, one male can normally pollinate several females, but in most cases you won't know the sex distribution when you do the planting. Holly berries are consumed by many bird species, including Wild Turkey, Bluebirds, Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Robins, Thrushers, Blue Jays, Cedar Waxwings, and Thrashers. White-tailed Deer eat the foliage and twigs.

Rafflesia arnoldii

2012-01-14T16:03:00.003+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Rafflesia arnoldii
Common Names: Giant Padma, Rare Padma, Corpse Flower, Meat Flower

Plant Type: Giant flower.
Plant Size: 12-100 cm in diameter.
Native Habitat: Rafflesia arnoldii is found in tropical rain forests in Indonesia.
Native Range: Rafflesia arnoldii is found in tropical rain forests in southeast Asia, especially in the rainforests of Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
Conservation Status: How many of these plants still survive is unknown, but as the remaining primary forests of Borneo and Sumatra disappear, it can be assumed that their numbers are dwindling. Many are known to be nearing extinction. Some environmentalists are developing ways to recreate the species environment in an effort to stimulate their recovery. This has proved unsuccessful so far. Steps are also being taken to conserve the forests of Sumatra and Borneo. To help counter the over-collection of this rare plant, residents that have Rafflesia on their private property are encouraged to save the flowers and charge a small fee to see them.

Rafflesia arnoldii is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on earth, and a strong odor of decaying flesh - the latter point earning it the nickname of Corpse Flower or Meat Flower. It is an endemic plant that occurs only in the rainforests of Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Although there are some plants with larger flowering organs like the Titan Arum and Talipot palm, those are technically clusters of many flowers.

Rafflesia arnoldii is one of the three national flowers in Indonesia, the other two being the White jasmine and Moon orchid. It was officially recognized as a national Rare Flower in Presidential Decree No. 4 in 1993. Several species of Rafflesia grow in the jungles of southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Many of them are threatened or endangered. The flower of Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest, growing to a diameter of around 1 m (3 ft) and weighing up to 11 kilograms (24 lb).

Rafflesia lacks any observable leaves, stems or even roots, yet is still considered a vascular plant. Similar to fungi, individuals grow as thread-like strands of tissue completely embedded within and in intimate contact with surrounding host cells from which nutrients and water are obtained. This plant produces no leaves, stems or roots and does not have chlorophyll. It can only be seen when it is ready to reproduce. Perhaps the only part of Rafflesia that is identifiable as distinctly plant-like are the flowers; although, even these are unusual since they attain massive proportions, have a reddish-brown coloration and stink of rotting flesh, which is why it was nicknamed the Corpse Flower. This scent attracts insects such as flies which then pollinate the rare plant. It is not to be confused with the Titan Arum, Amorphophallus titanum, which is also commonly referred to as the Corpse flower.

Rafflesia

2012-01-14T14:58:00.003+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Rafflesia
Common Names: Corpse Flower, Meat Flower

Plant Type: Giant flower.
Plant Size: 12-100 cm in diameter.
Native Habitat: Rafflesia is found in tropical rain forest area of southeastern Asia.
Native Range: All found in southeastern Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and the Philippines.
Conservation Status: How many of these plants still survive is unknown, but as the remaining primary forests of Borneo and Sumatra disappear, it can be assumed that their numbers are dwindling. Many are known to be nearing extinction. Some environmentalists are developing ways to recreate the species environment in an effort to stimulate their recovery. This has proved unsuccessful so far. Steps are also being taken to conserve the forests of Sumatra and Borneo. To help counter the over-collection of this rare plant, residents that have Rafflesia on their private property are encouraged to save the flowers and charge a small fee to see them.
Related Species:

Rafflesia arnoldii
Rafflesia aurantia
Rafflesia azlanii
Rafflesia baletei
Rafflesia bengkuluensis
Rafflesia cantleyi
Rafflesia gadutensis
Rafflesia hasseltii
Rafflesia keithii
Rafflesia kerrii
Rafflesia leonardi
Rafflesia lobata
Rafflesia manillana
Rafflesia micropylora
Rafflesia mira
Rafflesia patma
Rafflesia philippensis
Rafflesia pricei
Rafflesia rochussenii
Rafflesia schadenbergiana
Rafflesia speciosa
Rafflesia tengku-adlinii
Rafflesia tuan-mudae
Rafflesia verrucosa

Unverified Species :

Rafflesia borneensis
Rafflesia ciliata
Rafflesia titan
Rafflesia witkampii

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It contains approximately 28 species, all found in southeastern Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and the Philippines. Rafflesia was found in the Indonesian rain forest by an Indonesian guide working for Dr. Joseph Arnold in 1818, and named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition.

The plant has no stems, leaves or true roots. In some species, such as Rafflesia arnoldii, the flower may be over 100 cm (39 inch) in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kg (22 lb). Even the smallest species, Rafflesia baletei has 12 cm diameter flowers. The flowers look and smell like rotting flesh, hence its local names which translate to Corpse Flower or Meat Flower. The vile smell attracts insects such as flies, which transport pollen from male to female flowers.

Most species have separate male and female flowers, but a few have bisexual flowers. Little is known about seed dispersal. However, tree shrews and other forest mammals apparently eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. Rafflesia is an official state flower of Indonesia, also Sabah state in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

Teak

2012-01-13T14:59:00.003+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Tectona grandis
Common Names: Teak, Jati, Sagon, Sagwan, Tevaram

Plant Type: Large-size.

Height: 30-40 m.

Native Habitat: Tectona grandis is found in a variety of habitats and climatic conditions from arid areas with only 500 mm of rain per year to very moist forests with up to 5,000 mm of rain per year. Typically, though, the annual rainfall in areas where Teak grows averages 1,250-1,650 mm with a 3-5 month dry season.
Native Range: Scattered Populations Mostly in the Southeast Asia, Mainly India, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Burma but because the value of the wood, Teak is now also developed outside its natural distribution area. In tropical Africa, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Taiwan.
Cultivation: Teak is a yellowish brown timber with good grains and texture. It is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture, boat decks, and other articles where weather resistance is desired. It is also used for cutting boards, indoor flooring, countertops and as a veneer for indoor furnishings. The vast majority of commercially harvested teak is grown on teak plantations found in Indonesia and controlled by Perum Perhutani (a state owned forest enterprise) that manages the country's forests. The primary use of Teak harvested in Indonesia is in the production of outdoor teak furniture for export.
Related Species: Tectona hamiltoniana (Dahat Teak), Tectona philippinensis (Philippine Teak)

Tectona grandis is a kind of high-quality timber-producing trees. A large tree, straight-trunked, it can grow to 30-40 m high Large-leaved, which is shed in the dry season. Tectona grandis is known world by the name of Teak (English). Teak, though easily worked, can cause severe blunting on edged tools because of the presence of silica in the wood. Teak's natural oils make it useful in exposed locations, and make the timber termite and pest resistant.

Teak is durable even when not treated with oil or varnish. Timber cut from old teak trees was once believed to be more durable and harder than plantation grown teak. Studies have shown Plantation Teak performs on par with old-growth teak in erosion rate, dimensional stability, warping, and surface checking, but is more susceptible to color change from UV exposure. Tectona grandis is a large, deciduous tree that is dominant in mixed hardwood forests. It has small, fragrant white flowers and papery leaves that are often hairy on the lower surface.

Uses
Teak is used extensively in Indonesia to make doors and window frames, furniture, and columns and beams in old type houses. It is very resistant to termite attacks. Mature Teak fetches a very good price. It is grown extensively by forest departments of different states in forest areas. Leaves of the teak wood tree are used in making Pellakai gatti (jackfruit dumpling), where batter is poured into a teak leaf and is steamed. This type of usage is found in the coastal district of Udupi in the Tulunadu region in South India. The leaves are also used in gudeg, a dish of young jackfruit made in Central Java, Indonesia, and give the dish its dark brown color. Teak wood contains a kind of oil and sediment in the cells of the wood, so it can be used in the open durable even without varnish (especially when worn under the auspices of the roof). Inside the house, but used as raw materials furniture or teak furniture, Teak is also used in building structures. Traditional Javanese houses, such as home Joglo Central Java, using Teak in almost all its parts: the pillars, roof frame, to the carved walls. Teak is used extensively in boat decks, as it is extremely durable and requires very little maintenance. The teak tends to wear in to the softer 'summer' growth bands first, forming a natural 'non-slip' surface. Any sanding is therefore only damaging. Use of modern cleaning compounds, oils or preservatives will shorten the life of the Teak, as it contains natural teak-oil a very small distance below the white surface. Wooden boat experts will only wash the teak with salt water, and re-caulk when needed. This cleans the deck, and prevents it from drying out and the wood shrinking. The salt helps it absorb and retain moisture, and prevents any mildew and algal growth. People with poor knowledge often over-maintain the Teak, and drastically shorten its life.

Ylang-ylang

2012-01-12T15:08:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Cananga odorata
Common Names: Kenanga, Ylang-ylang, Dwarf Ylang-ylang
Plant Type: Small-size tree.
Height: 15-40 ft.
Native Habitat: Tropical rain forest.
Native Range: Indonesia, Philippines and North Australian.
Flowering Time: Flowering throughout the year.

Cananga odorata is a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae, that exceeds 5 m (15 ft) per year and attains an average height of 12 m (40 ft). It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rainforest habitat. The evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy, oval, pointed, with wavy margins, and 13-20 cm (5-8 inch) long. The flower is drooping, long-stalked, with six narrow greenish yellow (rarely pink) petals, rather like a sea star in appearance, and yields a highly fragrant essential oil. Cananga odorata var. fruticosa, Dwarf Ylang-ylang, grows as small tree or compact shrub with highly scented flowers.

This one blooms year round and the flowers are fragrant. It can also bloom very young. The Ylang-ylang is a tropical plant, but can take down to the mid 30's for short periods of time. It grows well in pots and can be brought inside during the winter time if you give it good light and the right conditions. It prefers to be outside in filtered light and can take a little bit of direct sunlight. It likes average moisture. It is perfect for small gardens or pots. Ylang-ylang has been cultivated in temperate climates under conservatory conditions. Its clusters of black fruit are an important food item for birds, such as the Collared Imperial-pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon, Zoe's Imperial-pigeon, Superb Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Coroneted Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, and Wompoo Fruit-dove.

Uses
The essential oil of Ylang-ylang is used in aromatherapy. It is believed to relieve high blood pressure, normalize sebum secretion for skin problems, and is considered to be an aphrodisiac. According to Margaret Mead, it was used as such by South Pacific natives such as the Samoan Islands where she did much of her research. The oil from Ylang-ylang is widely used in perfumery for oriental or floral themed perfumes and is said to be the key ingredient in Chanel #5. Ylang-ylang blends well with most floral, fruit and wood smells. In Indonesia, Ylang-ylang flowers are spread on the bed of newlywed couples. In the Philippines, its flowers, together with the flowers of the sampaguita, are strung into a necklace and worn by women and used to adorn religious images. Ylang-ylang's essential oil makes up 29% of the Comoros' annual export (1998). Ylang Ylang is a common ingredient in the herbal motion sickness product MotionEaze.

Yellowwood

2012-01-12T13:53:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Cladrastis kentukea, Cladrastis lutea
Common Names: Yellowwood, American Yellowwood, Gopherwood, Vergilia
Plant Type: Mid-size deciduous tree.
Height: 30 to 50 feet in height. The fragrant, white flowers are pendulous, forming clusters that reach 8 to 14 inch in length.
Native Habitat: Valleys or mountain slopes in hardwood forests.
Native Range: Relatively small portions of the southeastern United States; scattered populations mostly in the upper South and in the Ozark region of Arkansas.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Cladrastis kentukea as Critically Imperiled in Illinois, South Carolina, and Louisiana; Imperiled in Indiana and Mississippi; Imperiled or Vulnerable in Oklahoma and North Carolina; Vulnerable in Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri; and possibly Vulnerable in Kentucky. Officially the species is classified as Endangered by Illinois and Threatened by Indiana.
Cultivation: American Yellowwood does best in moist neutral soils with good drainage. It tolerates partial shade but grows faster and blooms better in sun. Because of the long taproot, big specimens can be difficult to transplant. Keep young trees well-watered and don't over-fertilize.
Related Species: There are no other members of this genus native to the United States ,but a few are found in Asia. The plant is part of the Legume family and is therefore distantly related to Locusts and Redbuds.
Varieties: Rosea (also known as Perkins Pink) - Rare pink flowers form found in Watertown, MA and offered by many specialized nurseries. A new twist on a beautiful native tree.
Flowering Time : Blooms heavily every 2 or 3 years.

American Yellowwood can put on one of the most spectacular flowering displays of any tree species. The blossoms appear in late spring, when numerous wisteria-like foot-long flower clusters droop from the branches. The color is normally white, but can be pink. In either case, a mature tree in full bloom is a stunning sight. In recognition of its beauty, the species was given the prestigious Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Award in 1994. Unfortunately, many people have never seen the tree in bloom. The species is rare in the wild and seldom planted in yards. Also, most specimens don't flower profusely every year, but only at two to four year intervals. The blossoms develop into bean-like pods that can hang on the branches into winter. Leaves are pinnately compound, usually with about seven leaflets.

They turn a clear yellow, or sometimes gold-orange, before dropping in autumn. Smooth gray bark and a rounded form give the tree a handsome look in winter. Yellowwood can make an excellent mid-size lawn tree. It deep taproot gives it drought resistance and allows other plants to grow beneath it. It also tolerates alkaline soils. Its main drawback is that it is rather slow growing, and often doesn't begin to bloom until it is about ten years old. It also has brittle wood that can break in storms, so it shouldn't be planted near a house or other structure. Sometimes a young Yellowwood will begin to fork into several main branches just a few feet above the ground, and in such a case it might be desirable to prune it to a single trunk. But any pruning should only be done in fall or early winter, because the tree bleeds excessively if pruned at other times. The species is found over a large geographic area, but only in small scattered populations. Some large individuals can be seen in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, particularly along the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail.

Uses

Cladrastis kentukea usually used as a shade tree. Can also serve as an ornamental tree because of the beautiful flowers, for attractive winter bark and attractive fall foliage.

Bigleaf Magnolia

2012-01-12T13:04:00.001+07:00

Description

Scientific Name: Magnolia macrophylla
Common Names: Bigleaf Magnolia, Silverleaf Magnolia
Plant Type: Mid-size deciduous tree.
Height: 40-60 feet.
Native Habitat: Moist soils, usually in valleys or ravines.
Native Range: South-central United States to Gulf Coast, with localized populations in southern Ohio and Arkansas.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Magnolia macrophylla as Critically Imperiled in Arkansas and Virginia; Imperiled in North Carolina and Ohio; and Vulnerable in Georgia. Officially the species is classified as Endangered by Arkansas and Ohio.
Cultivation: Give this plant moist well-drained soil, and water it during droughts. A mulch will help keep the soil moist. If possible, put it in a sheltered spot where strong winds are less likely to shred the leaves.

Bigleaf Magnolia is a medium sized deciduous tree known for its large leaves and flowers. The giant leaves can grow to 30 inch long and the flowers can be one meter wide. Such large sizes make an impact, and an adult one is sure to attract attention. Surprisingly, the tree itself is not particularly large, usually no more than 30 m high. Most plants have a thick trunk and a rounded crown of stout branches. The fragrant flowers that appear in late spring or early summer, six white petals around a yellow and purple heart. Unfortunately they are often partially hidden in the green and therefore difficult to see from the ground. The fruit is a cone-shaped pod with large red or scarlet seeds. If you want a smaller, but similar tree, consider planting an Ashe Magnolia (Magnolia ashei), which at one time was classified as a subspecies of Bigleaf Magnolia. This plant also has a very large leaves and beautiful flowers, but is usually less than 30 meters high. It blooms at a young age, sometimes when there are only three meters high. A very rare species found near the Gulf Coast, it may not do well in northern regions.

The large leaves and flowers are an indication that this is a primitive type. In fact, the magnolias are among the oldest of all surviving family tree. Their blossoms, unlike that of the more recently established trees are pollinated by beetles, which pre-date bees and butterflies. A strong scent helps attract the beetles. Bigleaf Magnolia is found from southern Ohio south to the Gulf Coast, but is not common everywhere. In cultivation it is proven to be hardly in many parts of the north. It's a bit of shade-tolerant, but can also grow in full sun. It has a moist loamy soil and can suffer during drought. If possible, you must plant in a sheltered spot, because high winds can tear the leaves and make them ugly. The tree has shallow roots that make it difficult to garden under, and fallen leaves and seed cones may be a litter problem. For these reasons, it is perhaps best suited to a nature reserve.

Uses

This is a beautiful plant. The large leaves and flowers make it a highly desirable as ornamental tree. The tree was planted in the eastern United States as far north as New England, but is indigenous only to small parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Carolinas. The species name means "big leaf". The members of the Magnoliaceae are the most primitive of flowering plants.

Pinckneya

2012-01-11T13:24:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Pinckneya pubens, Pinckneya bracteata
Common Names: Pinckneya, Fever Tree, Fever-bark Tree, Georgia Fever-bark
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 10-20 feet
Native Habitat: Margins of swamps, bays and streams.
Native Range: Mainly southern Georgia and northern Florida.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Pinckneya pubens as Critically-Imperiled in South Carolina, and possibly Vulnerable in Georgia.
Cultivation: Pinckneya grows best in moist acidic soil in light shade. Good drainage is essential. The plant has a reputation for being difficult to grow, so you should be prepared to give it special attention.
Flowering Time: May , June , July , Augustus.

Pinckneya is a small deciduous tree native to the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. It is remarkable to wear for the very showy flowers at the tips of the branches in late spring. Their color is mostly pink, but the possible shades ranging from creamy white to rose-red. The flowers come in large clusters, and a tree in full bloom is a spectacular sight. In fact, the petals of each flower is small, and are inconspicuous. The size and color of the flower comes from the sepals, which can extend several centimeters. Since these sepals retain their color over a longer period of time before they fade, the show lasts for several weeks.

This is a plant from the deep South, and it can not be grown in the north, except in a greenhouse. Also in the south it is not common, either in gardens or in the wild. Your home is wet acidic soil at the edge of the bays, marshes and streams, often in the penumbra of scattered pines. Crops can grow on dry sites, but may need special attention during the drought. Root rot can be a problem, especially on poorly drained clay soils. But in the right conditions, the species can grow relatively quickly and begin blooming in early years. It needs a moist, acidic soil with good drainage and thrives best in light shade. Wild specimens often spread by producing root suckers, and crops usually have multiple trunks. Pinckneya can be grown just north of its native range. It can be killed on the ground when the temperature falls below zero (F), but usually resprout from the roots. The scientific name of this type is changed from Pinckneya bracteata to Pinckneya pubens. An old common name is Fever-tree bark, and the bitter bark of the plant was formerly used as home remedies to reduce fever used. The nature of the cinchona tree (Cinchona ledgerina) of South America, the original source of quinine is used.

Uses
Showy flowers make this a talking point in any garden. Use it as an accent in a sunny shrub border or as a specimen near the patio or deck. This is certainly a tree to consider when planning a yard due to the small size and pest resistance. In earlier days, malaria and other fevers were treated at home with a medicine made from the inner bark of this deciduous tree.

Bird Cherry

2012-01-11T13:05:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Prunus padus
Common Names: Bird Cherry, Hackberry

Plant Type: Mid-size spring flower.
Height: 2–12 m (7–40 ft.).
Native Habitat: Broadleaf woods, streamsides, waterside thickets, forest margins. Also an ornamental.
Native Range: Europe, northern Asia to central Japan.
Flower: Showy flowers, fragrant flowers. Regular (actinomorphic), fairly small. Calyx-lobes 5, short, triangular. Petals 5, white, rarely reddish. One carpel. Stamens more than 20. Inflorescence a many-flowered, pendent raceme.
Flowering Time: April-May.

The cherries and plums (Prunus spp.) forming a genus of nearly 100 species. Most of the species occur in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. The Bird Cherry showily flowers in early summer. It is a shrub or small tree that is very demanding in terms of the growing substrate, but also thrives in the shade. But in short light it produces fewer flowers and often forms dense stands with drooping branches. The heavy-scented flowers attract insects, especially flies and bees. The wood and bark of this species contain a poisonous glycoside which breaks down into benzaldehyde (bitter almond oil) and hydrogen cyanide. These compounds cause a strong odor and taste, which act as an effective defense against herbivory. Nevertheless, the larva of certain moths (family Yponomeutidae) is not uncommon for the trees in white silky web and eat the leaves.

The black fruits of bird cherry is bitter-sweet. They can to produce a tasty liqueur or dyeing of wool, as they will yield a pale purple shade used. In northern Lapland, the dominant subspecies borealis. It is hairy and the flowers are mild scent. The fruit of this tree is rarely used in Western Europe, but is often eaten on the east. It was used medicinally in the Middle Ages. The bark of the tree, placed at the door should be, to ward off plague. It is also sold as an ornamental plant in North America as May Day tree. A taboo on the use of wood was reported by indigenous Advie, in the north east of Scotland is called a "witch tree".

Uses
Used as ornamental trees, spring flowers are the best ornamental feature. Medium-sized tree for sunny landscape areas. Can also be used as a shade plant or as a street tree that will surely add to the beauty of the place. They can to produce a tasty liqueur or dyeing of wool, as they will yield a pale purple shade used.

American Smoketree

2012-01-08T09:07:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Cotinus obovatus, Cotinus americanus
Common Names: American Smoketree, Chittamwood
Plant Type: Mid-size deciduous tree.
Height: 20 to 30 feet.
Native Habitat: Rocky uplands and ravines, openings in hardwood forests.
Native Range: Southern United States. Scattered populations in an irregular pattern from Tennessee to south-central Texas.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Cotinus obovatus as Critically Imperiled in Georgia, Imperiled in Tennessee and Alabama, and Vulnerable in Oklahoma. Officially the species is put into the category of Special Concern in Tennessee.
Cultivation: Although the American Smoketree can survive harsh conditions and neglect, it grows faster and blooms more profusely in good soil and a sunny exposure. It is more tolerant of alkaline soils than most native species, but may dislike permanently-moist conditions. Do not over-fertilize. Seeds need both warm and cold stratification, and can take up to two years to germinate.
Related Species: There are no other native species in this genus. The common smoketree generally sold in nurseries is an import from Eurasia.

Bloom Time: May to June.

Native to Missouri, American Smoketree is a small, rounded, deciduous tree or large shrub that matures to 20-30 ft tall. The common name comes not from its large greenish yellow flower clusters in June, but from the billowy smoky pink plumes that follow the flowers. Smoke display continues through much of the summer. Exciting fall color includes yellow, orange, red and reddish purple. Best growth occurs in somewhat infertile, well-drained soils.

The American Smoketree gets its name from its clusters of tiny blossoms which from a distance look like puffs of smoke. The individual blossoms are greenish-white, but the fuzzy flower stalks, which can be pink or purple, add additional color. The effect is often subtle, and male trees usually put on a somewhat showier display. The flowers on female trees develop into small seeds that are eaten by some finches. The leaves, which are bright green in summer, can turn to a spectacular orange-red before dropping in autumn. Specimens in sunny locations generally have the best color, but genetic variations or soil characteristics may have an influence.

American Smoketree should not be confused with the non-native Common Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria), which is sold in many nurseries and often planted in yards. The American plant, though in some ways more attractive, is much less common in landscapes. It is also very uncommon in the wild, being mostly restricted to isolated stands in an irregular band from Tennessee to Oklahoma and Texas. In cultivation the species has proven to be cold hardy in the north, which suggests that it once grew there. Possibly it migrated toward the south during the ice ages, but still retains its former cold-hardiness. Despite its rarity, the American Smoketree is easy to grow. It is tough enough to tolerate rocky alkaline soils and long droughts. Young plants in sunny locations can grow rather rapidly, up to two feet a year.

Pigeonberry

2012-01-08T01:30:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Name: Cornus alternifolia
Common Names: Pagoda Dogwood, Alternate-leaf Dogwood, Pigeonberry
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 10 to 15 feet. Reaches a maximum height of around 25 feet.
Native Habitat: Understory of mixed forests. Grow in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Best performance occurs in cool summer climates. Give consistent moisture and mulch the root zone.
Native Range: Native to the eastern United States, especially northern regions.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Cornus alternifolia as Imperiled in Delaware, Florida, and Mississippi. Officially the species is classified as Endangered by Florida.
Cultivation: This plant is shade-tolerant, but will look and perform better in sunlight. Give it slightly-acid well-drained soil and water young plants during dry spells.
Related species: Argentea (sometimes listed as Variegata), the only commonly available variety is a rare form that difficult to propagate and therefore fetches a high price. There is a small, shrubby plant (up to 15 feet high) with layered branches and leaves, which are beautifully colored with a white border. Other nurseries begin to offer this choice in greater numbers.

Flowering Time: May to June.

Pagoda dogwood is a small tree, the undergrowth a large part of the eastern United States. It is its common name from its pagoda-like horizontal branch. An older name, Pigeonberry refers to the fruit that was once a favorite food of the now-extinct passenger pigeon. Its scientific epithet alternifolia, refers to the leaf pattern, changes differently than most dogwoods, along the stem. This plant blooms are not as showy as those of the common dogwood flowers, but they are still attractive. They are creamy or yellowish-white, very fragrant, and form clusters at the ends of the branches. The flowers are berries that gradually changes from green to red to blue-black, followed on red stems. These berries are a valuable food for birds and other wildlife.

The leaves can turn a beautiful reddish-purple before they fall in autumn. The color varies from tree to tree, and may partly depend on growth. The light brownish-gray bark, together with the interesting branching structure, give the plant respond in the winter. This species is found over much of the eastern United States, but there are small genetic differences between plants from different regions. For this reason, plants from a southern seed source is not grown well in the north and vice versa. Pagoda Dogwood is vulnerable to a range of diseases, including branch plagues and cancers. But the way seems to be resistant to dogwood anthracnose, which has killed over the past few years, many flowering dogwood.

Uses

Used as ornamental trees spring flowers are the best decorative feature. Plant as a specimen or in small groups on residential property in houses, near patios or in lawns. Also effective in shrub borders, woodland gardens, bird gardens or naturalized areas.

Georgia Plume

2012-01-07T07:44:00.002+07:00

Description
Scientific Name: Elliottia racemosa
Common Names: Georgia Plume, Southern Plume
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 6-8 feet (at 10 years).
Native Habitat: Moist stream banks to dry ridges, usually in sandy soil.
Native Range: Scattered locations in eastern and southern Georgia. Once know from a site in South Carolina (collected in 1853). Rare though locally abundant it may also occur in cultivation.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Elliottia racemosa as Imperiled or Vulnerable in Georgia and Possibly Extirpated in South Carolina. The state of Georgia officially classifies it as Threatened.
Cultivation: Give this plant acid well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Wild plants often spread by root suckering, so pruning may to needed to get a tree form. Root rot is another possible problem, especially on poorly-drained soils.
Flowering Time: Late (July).

Elliottia racemosa or the Georgia Plume is a very rare small tree or large shrub in the ericaceae or rhododendron family, originally from the state of Georgia. A review of the literature on it reveals a story of frustration and disappointment. Despite the fact that it was discovered 170 years or more, and despite the fact that, because of its decorative qualities often described, it is still extremely rare in cultivation. Attractive white plumes of flowers appear in July. Georgia Plume is a rare small tree in Georgia, where he is officially listed as an endangered species found. It takes its name from the beautiful plume like spikes of fragrant white flowers appear in early summer. Since these peaks for up to a foot, a plant in full bloom can be quite striking.

Each inflorescence may be several dozen individual flowers that open gradually from base to tip, and have curved petals similar to those found on some native azaleas. In fact, the way a member of the heath family, which includes azaleas. The flowers develop into small round capsules with up to 40 seeds. The attractive elliptical leaves are about 4 inches long and can be a bright red or scarlet before dropping again in the autumn. Wild plants, which sometimes grow to 30 feet high, found on both wet and dry brook ridge. Because it is so rare Georgia Plume is getting difficult, but the system is maintained. Like most members of his family moves, it has an acid well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Old reports indicate that this species once grew at a site in South Carolina, but there is apparently no longer present. There were also losses of population in Georgia, especially in areas where pine plantations have been established. But the plants are protected in some locations, and efforts are made to insure the survival of the species.

Uses
Although very rarely but Georgia Plume used as an ornamental plant. Georgia Plume has a shape and color of beautiful flowers, but on the other hand these plants include plants that hard to be kept. Diminishing the number of plants in nature is becoming very rare even in their natural habitat. A pride if it can kept maintain these plants.

Franklin Tree

2012-01-07T03:31:00.001+07:00

Description
Scientific Name: Franklinia alatamaha
Common Names: Franklinia, Ben Franklin Tree, Franklin Tree, Lost Franklinia
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 10 to 20 feet.
Native Habitat: Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Must have good soil drainage. Consider raised plantings in poorly-drained heavy clay soils such as those present in much of the St. Louis area. Perhaps best in full sun in northern climates, but appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. May not be reliably winter hardy in the northern. Hard to transplant because of its sparsely fibrous root system, and is best left undisturbed once planted in the landscape.
Native Range: Southeastern United States.
Cultivation: Franklinia humus-rich acid soil, and water it during dry spells, especially when young. Good drainage is essential, so consider putting it on an elevated spot or artificial mound. It blooms most profusely in full sun, but in hot dry climates partial or dappled shade might give the best overall results. Sometimes this plant will try to grow as a shrub, but it can usually be trained into tree form. Franklinia is easy to grow from seed, and such a plant will often reach blooming size by the sixth year.
Related Species: There are no other species in this genus. The plant is distantly related to Loblolly-bay (Gordonia lasianthus), and to the Camellias and Stewartias (such as Stewartia ovata).
Flowering Time: July to August.

The Lost Franklinia is apparently extinct in the wild. All known living specimens are crops grown probably descended from a few trees (or maybe just a tree) in the garden of the eighteenth century botanist William Bartram and John. Bartram discovered the species in 1765, when they found a small stand of trees on a sandy hill near the Altamaha River in Coastal Georgia. These trees in the coming decades disappeared, possibly destroyed by clearing activities in the field. Despite numerous investigations no other wild specimens have ever been found. The Lost Franklinia is Ben Franklin Tree, or Tree Franklin, a name given him by Bartram in honor of their friend Benjamin Franklin. The species name "Alatamaha" is an old spelling for the name of the river, on which the plant was discovered.

Cultivated specimens Franklinia bushy plants are usually less than 20 meters high, often with multiple trunks. The tree does not bloom until late summer, when it bears attractive three-inch flowers with white petals and orange stamens. Individual flowers open over a long period, even in mid-fall. The fruit is a small, round capsule with a number of flat seeds. Leaves turn vibrant orange-red in late autumn before dropping. Although the only known wild trees growing in Georgia, cultivated specimens usually best in the northern regions. The poorly drained clay soils found in many parts of the South increases the susceptibility to root rot diseases, and there are indications that the current (or former) cotton-growing areas, a pathogen that kill the plant port.

The species can be successfully moved to the south, but it is difficult to know beforehand whether a particular place implants, has the right conditions. The good cold hardness of the surviving plants, suggesting that Franklinia may originally have been forced from the North originally, but had to migrate south during the Ice Age to the extreme cold and the repeated incursions of the ice to escape. But could be the conditions in the south, less suitable for them to have the Ice Age ended. If it has stranded there, it could begin to die as the climate has warmed up again. The plants of Bartram had discovered the last survivors of the once much larger population. Conceivable that kind could escape from cultivation and re-establish himself free in the wild. Deliberate attempts to restore it can be performed. But it is doubtful that the species could survive on its own for a longer period. Because existing systems are so closely related, as a group they may not have needed genetic diversity to resist new diseases or adapt to a changing climate.

Uses

Specimen tree or large shrub valued for its late summer flowers, good fall color and interesting history. Deserves a prominent location in the landscape. Used as a plant flowers.

Mountain Pepperbush

2012-01-05T20:52:00.000+07:00

Description

Scientific Name: Clethra acuminata
Common Names: Cinnamon Clethra, Cinnamonbark Clethra, Mountain Pepperbush
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree; sometimes shrublike.
Height: 12-36 feet.
Native Habitat: Mountainous areas in understory or openings near streams.
Native Range: Found mainly in the southern mountains.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Clethra acuminata as Critically Imperiled in Alabama and Pennsylvania. The species is officially classified as Endangered by Pennsylvania.
Cultivation: Give this plant moist humus-rich acid soil with good drainage, and water during droughts, especially when young. Fertilize lightly or not at all. It can tolerate shade, but will grow faster and bloom better in a sunny location. The tiny seeds should be sown under glass in spring.
Related Species: Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a similar but smaller and shrubbier eastern native. Other clethras are found in Asia.
Bloom Time: June, July, August.

Cinnamon Clethra is a small deciduous tree native to the southern Appalachian region. It's common name comes from the beautiful color of cinnamon bark, which is, of course, replace the outer layers as revealed. In fact, the color varies somewhat, from gold to pink and red ocher variations of the same plant can create a mottled pattern. The effect is particularly evident in winter.

The tree is also called Cinnamonbark Clethra. Another common name, Mountain Pepperbush, comes from its spicy-tasting seeds, used the early settlers as a substitute for black pepper. The flowers, long spikes of small white bells appear in early summer when few other plants bloom. The individual flowers open sequentially from the base to the top of the tower and are a good source of nectar for butterflies. The rich green leaves are oval-shaped with a tip and turn golden or yellow in autumn before dropping. The tiny seeds are to germinate best when they fall on mossy ground. This plant sometimes tempted to grow as a shrub, but can be cut in general to a tree form. This is generally preferred because it accentuates the effect of the beautiful bark. Also in tree form, the plant rarely grows more than 20 meters high and is therefore an excellent choice for small properties. Because it is a sub-type timber, it can survive in fairly heavy shade, but it will bloom much better if it receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight.

Clethra acuminata is found in small scattered populations from southern Pennsylvania to northern Alabama. The national co-champions, both grow about 30 feet high, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Wild plants are usually found in damp areas, but cultivated specimens can be adapted to dry habitats. This is a very attractive landscape plant.

Uses

The seeds have a spicy taste that can be used as a substitute for black pepper. That's why this plant got the name Mountain Pepperbush.

Mountain Camellia

2012-01-05T19:59:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Stewartia ovata, Stuartia ovata
Common Names: Mountain Camellia, Mountain Stewartia, Summer Dogwood, Showy Stewartia
Plant Type: Small deciduous tree.
Height: 15 to 20 feet.
Native Habitat: Understory of hardwood forests, often near streams. Usually below 2500 feet.
Native Range: Scattered areas in the central and southern United States.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Stewartia ovata as Imperiled in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia; Critically Imperiled in Mississippi; Imperiled or Vulnerable in Alabama; and possibly Vulnerable in Georgia and Kentucky.
Cultivation: Mountain stewartia can tolerate fairly heavy shade, but will grow faster and bloom more profusely if it receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight. It can take full sun in cooler climates, but partial or dappled shade might be best in the South. Try to give it a moist humus-rich soil with good drainage, and keep young trees well-watered, especially in hot climates or sunny exposures. Droughts can cause early leaf drop. Seeds require about 5 months warm stratification followed by about 3 months of cold stratification.
Related Species: A similar native species, Stewartia malacodendron, is found in scattered locations from Virginia to Texas, mostly at low elevations near the coast. Known as Silky camellia or Virginia stewartia, it has four-inch white blossoms with purple stamens and blue antlers. The only other Stewartia species are native to Asia, Stewartia pseudocamellia or Japanese stewartia is a small, slow-growing, pyramidal, deciduous tree which typically matures over time to 20-40 feet tall, this plant located in Japan. More distant relatives include Franklinia and various camellias.

Flowering Time: July.

The Mountain Camellia is a rare small tree native to the southern Appalachian region. It is removed with the evergreen camellias of Asia and used them in some ways resembles, but is not always green. As we rest in the case, it can better survive the cold winters American. The plant is called Mountain Stewartia and Summer Dogwood. It is most common in low and middle altitudes of the Great Smoky Mountains and on the Tennessee portion of the Cumberland Plateau. Some isolated populations are also in other areas, including small stands near Williamsburg, Virginia, and found in northern Mississippi.

The type blooms later than most native plants, the early to mid summer. His beautiful camellia flowers are about 3 inches wide, white waxy leaves and yellow stamens. There is also an uncommon form called Stewartia ovata Grandiflora, which has larger flowers and purple stamens. This form, sometimes known as Showy Stewartia is reportedly most common in the state of the trees in the vicinity of Williamsburg, but it has also been observed in other areas. Wild specimens are usually less than 20 meters high and often bushes. They grow in the forest undergrowth or on the edges of the openings along streams. The leaves are oval shaped and orange, red or gold in autumn before dropping. Woody seed capsules, about 1 cm long, can hang on the tree in the winter. Stewartia ovata as a species seems quite variable.

Horticulturist Polly Hill planted seeds collected from samples of the Grandiflora form and found some remarkable differences between the resulting plants. The flower shown on this page, with purple stamens and orange antlers is, form a Grandiflora. The photo was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to some authorities, the proper scientific name for this type Stuartia ovata, but the older name Stewartia ovata is still in common usage. Mountain Camellia can be difficult to obtain and difficult to grow. But if you be successful with it to be, you have a very rare and beautiful plant.

Uses

Lawn specimen, patios, shrub borders or native plant garden. This unusual tree deserves a prominent place in the landscape. Many people use this plant as an ornamental plant because this plant has a very beautiful flower. On the other hand, these plants began threatened in their natural habitat. Mountain Camellia can be difficult to obtain and difficult to grow. But if you are successful on him, you have a very rare and beautiful plant.

Carolina Silverbell

2012-01-05T08:45:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Halesia tetraptera, Halesia carolina
Common Names: Carolina Silverbell, Four-winged Silverbell, Silverbell
Plant Type: Small to large deciduous tree.
Height: 20-40 feet can form, but be much larger mountain.
Native Habitat: Halesia grows mostly in the mountains. Growth is best in moist, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soils with lots of organic matter. Plants prefer full sun or partial shade on cool, sheltered sites. Halesia transplants well as balled and burlapped or container-grown stock. It can be propagated by seed, root and greenwood cuttings and air layering.
Native Range: Scattered areas in central and southeastern United States, extending west to Oklahoma.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists endangered Halesia tetraptera as critical in Illinois, and endangered in Alabama and Oklahoma. Officially the species is considered endangered and Illinois Presumed eradicated through Ohio.
Cultivation: Carolina Silverbell can burn sensitive to drought and fertilizer. Give it a moist loamy soil with good drainage, and go light on fertilizer. A mulch can help preserve moisture during dry periods. Direct sunlight increases the flower, but too much sun can cause stress in hot, dry climates. The system can be several strains or trying to grow as a shrub, but can be trained usually in the form of a tree. Seeds need both warm and cold stratification and can be difficult to work with.
Related Species: A similar type is the Two-winged Silverbell (Halesia Diptera), also known as the snowdrop tree. This is a southern species, and it can make a very good alternative in warm climates, but may not survive to the north. Some nurseries sell a special form called magniflora, the bigger and stronger, has flowers. Two-winged Silverbell is slightly smaller than Carolina Silverbell, usually less than 25 meters high. Another similar species, Little Silverbell (Halesia parviflora), which grows along the Gulf coast and could be grown in this region. The flowers are only half as large as that of the other two species. There is also a more distantly related species called Bigleaf Snowbell (Styrax grandifolius). An undergrowth plant with white bell-shaped flowers, it can either grow as a shrub or a tree, and rarely more than 20 meters high. A smaller but similar species known to reach American Snowbell (Styrax americana) to about 10 meters. Each of these could be a good alternative to the Silverbells, where space is limited.
Flowering Time: April-May.

Carolina Silverbell is a deciduous tree native to central and southern United States. It takes its name from the beautiful bell-shaped flowers that hang from the branches in mid spring. These flowers, about 3 / 4 inch long, are usually pure white, but can also be pink. Regardless of color, they have a delicate beauty that no one will forget. The tree grows tall, usually about 30 meters, but a great form known as Mountain Silverbell are able to reach 100 feet. This form is found mainly in the southern Appalachians, is sometimes classified as separate species (Halesia monticola). It has larger leaves and flowers smaller than the form.

The tree can grow in fairly heavy shade, and is usually found in moist soil, often near streams. The leaves are oval and can be in a clear, turn yellow before dropping autumn. The winged fruits are drupes about an inch long, which are sometimes eaten by squirrels. As these stone fruits have four wings, the plant is sometimes referred to as Four-winged Silverbell. It's scientific name, formerly Halesia carolina,has been changed to Halesia tetraptera.

This species is found over a larger geographical area, as far north as West Virginia and southern Illinois, as far west as Oklahoma, and south to northern Florida. But it is spread thinly over much of its range and is becoming increasingly rare in many regions, especially in populated areas. Fortunately, there a number of nurseries propagate and therefore now available to the public. As more and more people plant them in their courts, it should at some point the appreciation it deserves.

Uses
Attractive, small tree or large shrub for the shrub border or woodland garden. Interesting design for the lawn. Grows well with rhododendrons and azaleas. Usually used as a flowering tree.

Jatropha curcas

2012-01-05T05:51:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Jatropha curcas
Common Names: Purging Nut, Physic Nut, Barbados Nut, Arandi, Jarak
Plant Type: It's a dioecious small tree or large shrub.
Height: 15-20 feet.
Native Habitat: It's cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Full sun, well drained Soils but grows on almost any soil, such as sandy-saline. It does not need much water; is resistant to long periods of drought and can withstand short spells of light frost.
Native Range: Jatropha curcas is native to the American tropics, most likely Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and becoming naturalized in some areas.
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer.

Jatropha curcas is a dioecious small tree or large shrub that grows 15 to 20 feet tall. It's native to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, but has been widely planted throughout the tropics for a number of commercial uses, perhaps now most predominately for production of biofuels. Maplelike, 3-5 lobed, pale green leaves (to 6 inches wide) are cordate at the bases. Green and yellow flowers bloom in spring. Branches have gray skin smooth and liquid emitting white sap when cut. Flowers give way to the green pods, each with 2-3 black oily seeds. Pods mature to yellow-red before splitting open to release seeds. Seeds are not recommended as a food, but contain oils that can be used to make candles, soap and biofuels. Harvest the seeds can be pressed for biodiesel production. Each square miles of the plant is expected to produce 2,000 barrels of oil per year. Seed oil content of each ranged between 30-40%. Cake remaining after pressing can be used to produce biogas and fertilizer. Jatropha curcas is a member of the spurge family and is closely related to castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

Full sun, well drained Soils but grows on almost any soil, such as sandy-saline. It does not need much water; is resistant to long periods of drought and can withstand short spells of light frost. Jatropha curcas grows best on well drained soils (pref pH 6-9) with good ventilation, but is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content. Jatropha curcas grows well with more than 600mm of rainfall per year, and it can survive long periods drought. The plant throws its leaves during a prolonged drought. Jatropha curcas preferred temperatures averaging 20-28 degrees Celsius (68-85 degrees Fahrenheit). It can, however, withstand a very light frost which causes it to lose all its leaves and may produce a sharp decline in seed yield. Jatropha curcas may produce for over 35 years.

Uses
Jatropha curcas is a non-edible oil crop used mainly to produce bio-diesel. In addition to biodiesel production, the by-product of Jatropha curcas transesterification process can be used to make a wide range of products including high quality paper, energy pellets, soap, cosmetics, toothpaste, embalming fluid, making pipe joint cement, cough medicine and as a moistening agent in tobacco. In Suriname, this plant are used as traditional medicine. The leaves of this plant are used against stomachache, when diagnosed in children: boiled leaves for conditions of the gums and throat, the tea of the leaves are used to stoppage of urine, constipation, backache and inflammation of ovaries.

Igiri Tree

2011-12-31T11:52:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Idesia polycarpa
Synonyms: Idesia Maximowicz
Common Names: Igiri Tree
Plant Type: Large-size deciduous tree.
Height: 40-60 feet.
Native Habitat: Hills and mountain forests above elevations of 2000 m above sea level. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.
Native Range: Eastern Asia including China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Cultivation: Prefers a neutral to slightly acid loamy soil, but tolerates a chalky sub-soil if the top soil is deep. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade. The dormant plant is hardy to about -15°c, though the tree is somewhat hardier if the wood is thoroughly ripened by a long hot summer. The young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant. The flowers have a most delicious perfume, which can be wafted far and wide by warm breezes. Trees produce fruit regularly. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required. Female plants can produce some fruit in the absence of a male plant.
Flowering Time: June to July.

Idesia polycarpa is the single species in the Idesia genus (Flacourtiaceae family). Forms a very fast growing, deciduous shade tree, it's native to eastern Asia in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Talk about plant-size some records include; 6 years - 25 x 25 feet, 20 years - 50 x 30 feet, largest on record - 60 x 80 feet ( rarely over 50 feet with a trunk up to 2.8 feet wide). Excellent tree for large landscaping such as parks where trees can be massed for effect. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, 8–20 cm long and 7–20 cm broad, are very large and tropical looking . The foliage is bronze purple at first, turning glossy deep green above and blue-white beneath during summer, persisting very late into the fall though usually remaining green until falling. The attractive foliage is borne on red stalks.

The flowers are small, yellowish green, fragrant, and born in panicles 13–30 cm long, are followed by very attractive hanging clusters of bright-red berries during fall persisting well into winter. The berries are borne on female trees only so multiple trees are required for berry production. If used as a street tree, just a single or 2 males trees can pollinate the remainder of the block of trees. Some birds like the berries while others don't so the persistence of the berry crop may vary from year to year depending on bird populations.

The bark is also very attractive, smooth and very light gray. The Igiri Tree is hardy to about -15°c, though the tree is somewhat hardier if the wood is thoroughly ripened by a long hot summer in full sun preferring fertile, well drained acid loam (though tolerating alkaline or just about any soil). It's heat and drought tolerant and actually prefers hot humid summers. Very easy to grow, it is wind tolerant even in coastal areas and is virtually immune to insect pests and disease. The Igiri Tree is easy to transplant while dormant, small trees can even be transplanted bare root.

Uses
The fruit is edible either raw or cooked. The fruit is a many seeded berry with a pulpy flesh. Idesia polycarpa is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in other temperate regions including Europe.

Halesia

2011-12-31T10:54:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Halesia
Common Names: Silverbell
Plant Type: Small to large deciduous tree.
Height: 20-40 feet can form, but be much larger mountain.
Native Habitat: Halesia grows mostly in the mountains. Growth is best in moist, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soils with lots of organic matter. Plants prefer full sun or partial shade on cool, sheltered sites. Halesia transplants well as balled and burlapped or container-grown stock. It can be propagated by seed, root and greenwood cuttings and air layering.
Native Range: Halesia grows mostly in the Piedmont and mountains of the Carolinas, eastern Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. It's distribution extends beyond this central area in small populations scattered over the southeastern Coastal Plain, western Virginia, West Virginia, southern Ohio, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western Kentucky, Tennessee, central Arkansas, and southeastern Oklahoma. Halesia grows in moist soils along streams in the understory of hardwood forests.
Cultivation: Halesia can burn sensitive to drought and fertilizer. Give it a moist loamy soil with good drainage, and go light on fertilizer. A mulch can help preserve moisture during dry periods. Direct sunlight increases the flower, but too much sun can cause stress in hot, dry climates. The system can be several strains or trying to grow as a shrub, but can be trained usually in the form of a tree. Seeds need both warm and cold stratification and can be difficult to work with.
Conservation Status: Native to Kentucky. Silverbell is ranked as a plant of conservation concern (threatened) by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission.
Related Species:

Halesia diptera
Halesia macgregorii
Halesia monticola
Halesia parviflora
Halesia tetraptera

Flowering Time: April-May.

Halesia was named for the Reverend Stephen Hale (1677-1761), a physiologist and author of Vegetable Staticks (1727). The species is found in scattered populations over much of the eastern United States, as far north as West Virginia, south to northern Florida, and west to Oklahoma. But it is thinly distributed over much of its native range, and is becoming rare in many areas. Some botanists treat Halesia monticola as a variety of Halesia tetraptera. This taxon is much larger, up to 20-40 feet tall, with larger leaves up to 20 cm long and flowers up to 3 cm long. It is cultivated as an ornamental tree.

In the landscape, this Silverbell functions more as a huge low-branched shrub with several trunks, forming an open, transparent structure almost as wide as it is tall. Its mature bark is strikingly veined in gray and black, and its pest- and disease-resistant leaves are pleasantly oval. Come winter, its showy, Four-winged fruits (hence the name Halesia tetraptera) dangle like deflated punching bags, and are often fodder for birds. But for ten days in spring, the Silverbell is no less than a benediction for humanity, with white, breathless bells that hang on angel hair-thin stalks and seem to enlighten anyone or anything beneath them.

Uses
Attractive, small tree or large shrub for the shrub border or woodland garden. Interesting design for the lawn. Grows well with rhododendrons and azaleas. Usually used as a flowering tree.

Ginkgo biloba

2011-12-31T09:53:00.000+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Ginkgo biloba
Common Names: Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo
Plant Type: Large-size deciduous conifer tree.
Height: Grow an average 20–35 m (66–115 feet), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (164 feet).
Native Habitat: Many specimens are found along stream banks, rocky slopes, and cliff edges.
Native Range: Ginkgo biloba and other species of the same genus had spread throughout the world is expressed, but their numbers declined rapidly in two million years ago. For centuries, considered extinct in the wild, but now known to remain in two small province of Zhejiang in East China and in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve.
Conservation Status: After the declared extinct and then rediscovered, now this species has been widespread in cultivation.
Cultivation: Easily grown in average, medium moisture soil in full sun. Prefers moist, sandy, well drained soils. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions including both alkaline and acidic soils and compacted soils. Also tolerant of saline conditions, air pollution and heat. Fits well to most urban areas.
Bloom Time: April.

Ginkgo biloba are large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 feet), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (164 feet). The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep rooted and resistant to damage from wind and snow. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched, the crown becomes broader as the tree aged. A combination of disease resistance, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes Ginkgo durable, with some specimens claimed that more than 2,500 years old.

Ginkgo biloba is a deciduous conifer, the unique, two-lobed, somewhat leathery, fan-shaped leaves with diverging (almost parallel) veins features. Ginkgo is the only surviving member of a group of old trees probably inhabited the earth up to 150 million years old. Ginkgo is dioecious (separate male and female trees). Female trees are very undesirable because they produce seeds encased fleshy, fruit-like coverings that are at the end of the term in the fall, messy and emit a noxious, foul odor after falling to the ground and open columns. As a result, nurseries today generally sell only male cultivars. 'Autumn Gold' is a purely male variety usually always at the end of the term to 40-50 meters with a symmetrical, broadly spreading habit. In autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow fall, then, sometimes within a very short time (1-15 days). Ginkgo is also commonly called Maidenhair Tree, which refers to the resemblance of the fan-shaped leaves to maidenhair fern leaflets (pinnae).

Reproduction method is quite unique, Ginkgo disseminates neither spores (like the ferns), nor seeds (like the graminaceous ones) but something intermediary: the ovule. The ovule is the entirety of the female germ cells i.e. the oosphere (haploid) and additional (nucellus). They have large ovules, are filled with reserve, that Ginkgo drops on the ground rather tardily in season. Formed with the higher pole of the ovule is constituted a mini cavity filled with liquid: the pollinic space. This room is a tiny opening, the micropyle, which produces a viscous drop to a grain of pollen trap when it is presented and the micropyle is closed then. Finally, pollen germinates and then generates real spermatozoïde the female swim against the cell and penetrate to merge with it.

Uses
The tree is widely cultivated and introduced, since an early period in human history, and has various uses as a food and traditional medicine. Good choice for a variety of uses, including lawn tree, street tree or shade tree. Also effective in city parks and near commercial buildings. Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalides) and have been used pharmaceutically. Ginkgo supplements are usually taken in the range of 40–200 mg per day. Recently, careful clinical trials have shown Ginkgo to be effective in treating dementia but not preventing the onset of Alzheimer's Disease in normal people.

American Persimmon

2011-12-30T17:14:00.001+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Diospyros virginiana
Common Names: American Persimmon, Common Persimmon, Eastern Persimmon, Florida Persimmon, simmon and possumwood
Plant Type: Slow-growing tree of moderate size found on a wide variety of soils and sites.
Height: Grows to 20 m (66 ft), in well-drained soil.
Native Habitat: Valleys and dry uplands in clearings and mixed forests. It's best development is in the rich bottom lands of the Mississippi River and its tributaries and in coastal river valleys.
Native Range: Common Persimmon is found from southern Connecticut and Long Island to southern Florida westward through central Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, and central Illinois to southeast Iowa and south through eastern Kansas and Oklahoma to the Valley of the Colorado River in Texas. Best growth is in the bottom lands of the Mississippi River Valley.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Diospyros virginiana as Critically-Imperiled in Connecticut and Iowa, and Imperiled in New York. Officially the species is listed as Threatened in New Jersey and of Special Concern in Connecticut.
Cultivation: American Persimmon can survive on poor sites, but for best growth and fruit production, give it good soil and plenty of sunlight, and keep it well-watered for the first couple of years. Spraying for insects or diseases normally isn't necessary to get good quality fruit. Because of its potentially deep tap root, a small specimen may be easier to plant. Seeds require about three months of cold moist stratification in order to germinate. If planted in the fall, they should come up the following spring.
Related Species: The only closely related species United States is the Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana), which is found in central and southern Texas and northern Mexico. His small black fruit is edible when fully ripe, but may stain the mouth, teeth and hands.

The genus name for the American Persimmon means "Fruit of the Gods". This is a reference to the lovely golden-orange fruits that often hang on the tree after the leaves fall in autumn. When they are ripe, these fruits are very sweet. But they must be fully ripe. If you try to eat too quickly, will probably pucker your mouth the bitter taste of tannin. Nevertheless, a ripe fruit is a real treat. Native Americans enjoyed them, and they are a popular food for wild turkey, mocking birds, deer, raccoons, foxes, squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife. They can be made into puddings, preserves, beer, and brandy, and can also be dried for winter food. Most American Persimmon trees are either male or female, but some are self-fertile. The fruits are usually about 1 cm in diameter, but nurseries sell special cultivars that produce more. The size of a crop, especially on wild trees, usually varies from year to year.

A fruit is soft as it matures, and the skin begins to wrinkle. To avoid the competition of flora and fauna, you can choose them for a few days early, just after they begin to soften, and let them ripen on a windowsill. Some people say they do not get ripe until after the first frost, but that's not always true. A self-fertile variety called Meader can produce its first ripe fruits as early as mid-August in warm climates. Besides the fruit-bearing potential, the American Persimmon make a nice mid-sized yard tree. The large drooping leaves give a soft look, and the dark checkered bark of trees provides winter interest. The bell-shaped flowers are pistillate an attractive creamy-yellow, very fragrant, and an excellent nectar source for bees.

A grouping of a number of trees can be a good animal plants. The tree is strong and flexible, growing rapidly, and the deep taproot gives good drought resistance. It can survive in the shade, but grows and fruits best in sun. Seedlings planted in good soil and a sunny location can begin fruiting in about 6-8 years. As wild as effectively distributes its seed, American Persimmon is still fairly common in some areas. But in other regions the species is scarce. A disease called persimmon want (Cephalsporium diospyri) has slain some wild trees in the upper South, and can spread to other areas.

Uses
The fruit is rich in vitamin C. The unripe fruit is astringent. The ripe fruit can be eaten raw, cooked or dried. Molasses can be made from the flesh. A tea can be made from the leaves and roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute. Other popular applications include desserts, such as persimmon cake, persimmon pudding and persimmon candy. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, and very dense grain. The average number of rings per 5.5 cm (14 in each). Density of light-brown bark is 0.79, a 0.028 m³ block weighs about 22 kg. Because of its hardness, smoothness, and even the texture, it is particularly desirable for turnery, plane stocks, shoe lasts, shuttles, and golf club heads. Persimmon is sometimes planted for its edible fruits. Dried fruit is added to baked goods and occasional fermented with hops, corn flour, wheat bran or a kind of beer. The dried, roasted, ground seeds are used as a substitute for coffee. Seeds and fruits are generally low in crude protein, crude fat, calcium and nitrogen but high in tannin and extract. The inner bark and unripe fruit are sometimes used to treat fever, diarrhea and bleeding. Indelible ink is made from fruit. Persimmon is valued as an ornamental because of its hardness, adaptability to a wide range of soils and climates, its glossy leaves, are abundant crop of fruit, and immunity against diseases and insects. It was introduced in Europe. The tree is suitable for erosion control on deeper soils because of its deep roots, but this same property makes it difficult to plant. Persimmon flowers are useful in the production of honey.

American Chestnut

2011-12-30T16:01:00.001+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Castanea dentata
Common Names: American Sweet Chestnut, American Chestnut, Chestnut
Plant Type: Deciduous hardwood tree.
Height: it reached up to 30–45 m (100–150 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) in diameter.
Native Habitat: Mostly upland forests. Dry, gravelly or rocky, mostly acid soils. This species is virtually extinct in America due to chestnut blight.
Native Range: The original range ran in a broad irregular swath from upper New England south to Alabama and Mississippi, Eastern North America - Maine and Ontario to Michigan, Georgia and Arkansas.
Conservation Status: In the first half of the twentieth century, this magnificent tree was almost completely wiped out by Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). Accidentally brought from Asia to New York in the 1890, the disease that required only a few decades to spread throughout the tree native range. Only a few rare trees in that area still survive along with some old stumps sometimes send their roots to shoots. Almost all of the known healthy trees are isolated specimens were planted in western states and other areas not affected by the disease. But there's a good chance that the American Chestnut can be saved and even re-established in the old range. By working with genetic material from living trees, scientists hope that the disease-resistant strains to develop. In one approach, the hybrid offspring of a resistant Asian species repeatedly crossed with pure American species, and the Asian boom features gradually bred over several generations. It is thought that this process could ultimately lead to a 98% pure American form.
Cultivation: Prefers a good well-drained slightly acid loam but succeeds in dry soils and in warm sunny places. Once established, it is very drought tolerant. Very tolerant of highly acid, infertile dry sands. Averse to calcareous soils but succeeds on harder limestones. Although very hardy, this species really live in areas with hot summers. A tree at Kew in 1985 was 15 m long and prosperous. At one time widely cultivated in North America for its edible seeds, it is now virtually extinct in the wild due to chestnut blight. There are several named varieties. Trees may become resistant, some suck ring state in America to produce fruit. Suckers often reach 4-6 m high for the indulgence of fire blight, but rarely manage to produce fruit. An excellent soil-enriching understorey in pine forests. Flowers are produced on wood of the growth in the current year. Plants are fairly self-sterile. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Related Species: Allegheny Chinkapin (Castanea pumila) is a small tree from the southeast. It produces similar but smaller nuts. The species has some resistance to the disease, but can still be affected.

Castanea dentata was once the most populous species in the eastern United States, possibly numbering in excess of four billion individual trees. Many of these were real giants, to 30-45 m (100-150 ft) high and 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. Pioneers often built their huts of the rot-resistant wood, and the plants were also very valuable for wildlife. Unlike most other mast-producing trees, but generally only large plants from two to four year intervals, the chestnut is a heavy annual bearer. The nutritious nuts were a pre-primary winter food for many birds and mammals, including turkeys, bears, deer, pigs and squirrels. The events in the first half of the twentieth century, this magnificent tree is almost completely wiped out by Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). Now there's a good chance that the American Chestnut can be saved and even re-established in the old range. By working with genetic material from living trees, scientists hope that the disease-resistant strains to develop. In one approach, the hybrid offspring of a resistant Asian species repeatedly crossed with pure American species, and the Asian boom features gradually bred over several generations. It is thought that this process could ultimately lead to a 98% pure American form.

There is also interest in the possibility of developing resistant strains of the few trees that still survive in the disease-affected area, but right now nobody knows if it is feasible. Another possible solution to the problem is a disease-resistance gene to be inserted directly into the DNA of the American tree. This could produce a nearly 100% pure American form. It is important to preserve as much of the natural species diversity as possible, and for this reason scientists want to eventually develop a number of resistant strains. To clear the way for future work in this direction, aims to collect and preserve genetic material from a large number of surviving trees.American Chestnut is a powerful fast-growing tree. It is also to adapt to different soils and climates, and established plants can withstand drought. But because of its size and relatively rough appearance and the possible thorny nest of nut shells, it might be best suited for a woodlot or semi-wild area. If a large crop of nuts is desired, a number of trees be planted to ensure good pollination. Trees begin to bear when only a few years old.

Uses

The nuts were once an important economic resource in the United States, are sold on the streets of towns and cities. Chestnut are edible raw or roasted, but most preferably roasted. Nuts of the American Sweet Chestnut are now sold in many stores instead. Seed can be consumed raw or cooked. Rather on the small side, but these are the sweetest seeds of any species in this genus. The seed contains about 7% fat, 11% protein. It can be dried, ground into powder and then be added to cereals when making bread, cakes etc. A delicious oil can be extracted from the seed by crushing the nuts, boiling them in water and then skimming off the oil as it comes to the surface. It can be used as a topping for various puddings. The roasted nut can be used as a coffee substitute and a chocolate substitute can also be made from it.
The wood is straight-grained, strong and easy to cut and split, and it lacks the radial end grain found on most other hardwoods. The tree was particularly valuable because the market grew at a faster rate than oaks. Are rich in tannins, the wood was highly resistant to decay and therefore used for various purposes, including furniture, split-rail fences, shingles, home construction, flooring, piers, plywood, paper pulp, and telephone poles. Tannins were extracted from the bark for tanning leather. Although the larger trees are no longer available for milling, there is much chestnut wood is reclaimed from historic barns to be converted into furniture and other items.

In medicine a warm water infusion of the leaves has been used to calm the respiratory nerves and promote expectoration. The infusion has also been used in the treatment of whooping cough but modern opinion is that the leaves are no more than a mild astringent.

Japanese Maple

2011-12-30T15:26:00.001+07:00

Description
Scientific Names: Acer palmatum
Common Names: Japanese Maple, Smooth Japanese Maple
Plant Type: Deciduous tree.
Height: 6-10 m, rarely 16 m.
Native Habitat : Often growing as an understory plant in shady woodlands and in temperate areas.
Native Range: Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, Russia and Southeast.
Conservation Status: Cultivated as an ornamental plant, usually used as a bonsai.
Similiar Species: Acer duplicatoserratum, Acer japonicum, Acer pseudosieboldianum, Acer shirasawanum, Acer sieboldianum.

Acer palmatum, called Japanese Maple or Smooth Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, Russia and Southeast. There are many different cultivars of maple that are selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf shapes and colors. They are very popular and are relatively expensive due to their size trees. Acer palmatum is a deciduous shrub or small tree reaching heights of 6-10 m, rarely 16 m, often growing as an under story plant in shady woods. It may take several trunks close to the ground. In practice, it is often the shape of a hemisphere (especially younger) or takes a dome-like shape, especially as an adult. The leaves are 4-12 cm long and broad, palmately lobed with five, seven or nine acutely pointed lobes. The flowers are produced in small Cymes, individual flowers with five red or purple sepals and five whitish petals. The fruit is a pair of winged Samaras, Samara each 2-3 cm long with a 6-8 mm seed. The seeds of the Japanese Maple and similar species require stratification to germinate.

Uses
When the Swedish doctor-botanist Carl Peter Thunberg traveled to Japan late in the eighteenth century, he is eliminated from drawings of a small tree that would eventually become synonymous with high art of oriental gardens. He gave it the species name palmatum after the hand-like shape of its leaves, similar to the ancient Japanese name Kaede and Momiji, references to the hands of the frogs and babies respectively. For centuries gardeners have developed cultivars of Japanese maples in Japan and around Korea and China. They are a popular choice for bonsai lovers and have long been a subject in art.