Biology:Escallonia bifida

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Escallonia bifida
Escallonia bifida 5074.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Escalloniales
Family: Escalloniaceae
Genus: Escallonia
Species:
E. bifida
Binomial name
Escallonia bifida
Link & Otto[1]
Synonyms

Escallonia floribunda var. montevidensis Cham. & Schltdl.
Escallonia montevidensis (Cham. & Schltdl.) DC.

Escallonia bifida, the cloven gum box, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Escalloniaceae. It is native to Brazil and Uruguay.[2]

It can grow up to 4 m (13 ft) high and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) broad, and has dark green shiny leaves which are 2 to 7 cm long and 0.8 to 2 cm wide. The pure white flowers, initially tubular but then spreading, appear in summer.[2]

It is sparingly naturalised in New South Wales in Australia.[2] It is found in cultivation in mild coastal regions of the UK (hardy down to −5 °C (23 °F), where its dense habit makes it suitable for tall hedging. In colder areas it requires the protection of a wall. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

The Latin specific epithet bifida means “cleft in two”.[5]

References

  1. "Escallonia bifida Link & Otto". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=63214. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "New South Wales Flora Online: Escallonia bifida". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Escallonia~bifida. 
  3. "RHS Plantfinder - Escallonia bifida". https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/44649/i-Escallonia-bifida-i/Details. 
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf. 
  5. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315. 

Wikidata ☰ Q16981770 entry