Biology:Dombeya wallichii

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Short description: Species of shrub

Dombeya wallichii
Dombeya wallichii2.jpg
Inflorescence
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Dombeya
Species:
D. wallichii
Binomial name
Dombeya wallichii
(Lindl.) Benth. ex Baill. (1885)
Synonyms[1]
  • Assonia wallichii (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891)
  • Astrapaea penduliflora DC. (1828)
  • Astrapaea speciosa F.Dietr. (1825)
  • Astrapaea wallichii Lindl. (1821)
  • Dombeya penduliflora (DC.) M.Gómez (1890)
  • Dombeya speciosa A.Dietr. ex Salomon (1880), nom. superfl.

Dombeya wallichii is a flowering shrub of the family Malvaceae known by the common names pinkball, pink ball tree, and tropical hydrangea.[2]

Description

The plant can grow 20[3] to 30[2] feet tall and has a spread of up to 25 feet. The alternately arranged leaves are heart-shaped with serrated edges. The hanging flower clusters are pink, showy,[3] and fragrant.[2]

Range and habitat

It is native to eastern Madagascar .[1] Its natural distribution isn't well understood, but wild specimens were collected from two coastal streamside locations on the eastern coast of Madagascar – at Antalaha on the northeastern coast, and at Mandena on the southeastern coast.[4]

It has been introduced by humans to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Marianas, Mauritius, southwestern Mexico, Réunion, Thailand, and the Windward Islands, where it has naturalized.[1]

Cultivation

Dombeya wallichii is grown widely as a garden plant.

This species can be crossed with Dombeya burgessiae to produce the hybrid Dombeya × cayeuxii.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dombeya wallichii (Lindl.) Benth. ex Baill. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 26 June 2023.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Carter, K. Tropical Hydrangea: Dombeya wallichi. Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture. University of California Cooperative Extension, Central Coast & South Region.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Gilman, E. F. and D. G. Watson. Dombeya wallichii: Pinkball. Document ENH391. Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published 1993. Revised 2006.
  4. Skema, C. (2014). Reevaluation of Species Delimitations in Dombeya Section Hilsenbergia (Dombeyaceae). Systematic Botany, 39(2), 541–562. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24546163

Wikidata ☰ Q615818 entry