Biology:Pyracantha
Pyracantha (from Greek pyr "fire" and akanthos "thorn", hence firethorn)[1] is a genus of large, thorny evergreen shrubs in the family Rosaceae, with common names firethorn or pyracantha. They are native to an area extending from Southwest Europe east to Southeast Asia. They resemble and are related to Cotoneaster, but have serrated leaf margins and numerous thorns (Cotoneaster is thornless).
Description
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The plants reach up to 4.5 m (15 ft) tall. Leaves are small and oval. The seven species have small white flowers which are 5-merous and many stamened. Fruit are either red, orange, or yellow pomes.[2] The flowers are produced during late spring and early summer; the fruit develops in late summer, and matures in late autumn.
Fruit
The fruit of Pyracantha are classified as pomes. The pulp is safe for human consumption, but it is insipid, and the seeds are mildly poisonous as they contain cyanogenic glycosides (as do apples, plums, cherries, and almonds).[3] Seeds that are chewed and crushed while raw will release cyanogenic glycosides, and can cause mild gastro-intestinal problems when eaten in large enough quantities.[3][4][5] The fruit can be made into jelly.[6] The fruits persist significantly into winter which makes them a valuable bird food.[2]
Fossil record
A large number of fossil fruits of †Pyracantha acuticarpa have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark.[7]
Taxonomy
Pyracantha is a member of the Rose family, and includes seven species. The genus was defined by 19th century botanist Max Joseph Roemer.[8] The term Pyracantha derives from the Greek pyrakantha, referring to pyr "fire", and akantha "thorn, thorny plant".[9]
Species
Six species are accepted.[10]
- Pyracantha angustifolia (Franch.) C.K.Schneid. – eastern Himalaya to southern China
- Pyracantha coccinea M.Roem. – southern Europe, Turkey, Crimea, Caucasus, and Iran
- Pyracantha crenulata (D.Don) M.Roem. – Himalaya (synonyms Pyracantha atalantioides (Hance) Stapf, Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) H.L.Li, and Pyracantha rogersiana (A.B.Jacks.) Bean) – Himalaya to China
- Pyracantha densiflora T.T.Yu – southern China (northwestern Guangxi)
- Pyracantha inermis J.E.Vidal – south-central China and Laos
- Pyracantha koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder – Taiwan
Cultivation
Cultivars
The following cultivars have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
- Pyracantha 'Orange Glow'[11] (orange berries)
- Pyracantha Saphyr Orange ('Cadange')[12] (orange berries)
- Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge ('Cadrou')[13] (orange-red berries)
- Pyracantha 'Teton'[14] (orange-yellow berries)
- Pyracantha rogersiana 'Flava'[15] (yellow berries)
Ecology
Pyracantha fruit can be dispersed into natural areas, allowing plants to invade natural communities. Species of Pyracantha are considered to be invasive in portions of the United States, including the states of California and Georgia.[16] Orange firethorn (Pyracantha angustifolia) is considered to be a weed or potential ("sleeper") weed in several states or territories of Australia, including Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.[17] As a consequence, importation and propagation are prohibited in some parts of Australia.[17]
References
- ↑ Johnson, A.T.; Smith, H.A.; Stockdale, A.P. (2019), Plant Names Simplified: Their Pronunciation Derivation & Meaning, Sheffield, Yorkshire: 5M Publishing, p. 127, ISBN 9781910455067
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Firethorn | plant" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/plant/firethorn.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Plant poisoning—Cyanogenic glycoside Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes". RightDiagnosis.com. https://www.rightdiagnosis.com/p/plant_poisoning_cyanogenic_glycoside/intro.htm.
- ↑ "FDA Poisonous Plant Database". www.cfsanappsexternal.fda.gov. https://www.cfsanappsexternal.fda.gov/scripts/plantox/detail.cfm?id=1349.
- ↑ See entry in German wikipedia :de:Feuerdorn
- ↑ "Pyracantha | Archives | Aggie Horticulture". https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/trees/pyracan.html.
- ↑ Angiosperm Fruits and Seeds from the Middle Miocene of Jutland (Denmark) by Else Marie Friis, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters 24:3, 1985
- ↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Pyracantha". https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=25291#null.
- ↑ "Pyracanth | Etymology of pyracanth by etymonline". https://www.etymonline.com/word/pyracanth.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpowo - ↑ "Pyracantha 'Orange Glow'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/70048/Pyracantha-Orange-Glow/Details.
- ↑ "Pyracantha Saphyr Orange ('Cadange')". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/80987/pyracantha-saphyr-orange-(-cadange-)/details.
- ↑ "Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge ('Cadrou')". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/79022/Pyracantha-Saphyr-Rouge-Cadrou/Details.
- ↑ "Pyracantha 'Teton'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/54331/Pyracantha-Teton/Details.
- ↑ "Pyracantha rogersiana 'Flava'". RHS. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/63757/Pyracantha-rogersiana-Flava/Details.
- ↑ "scarlet firethorn: Pyracantha coccinea (Rosales: Rosaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States". https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=14117.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Pyracantha angustifolia". https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/pyracantha_angustifolia.htm.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q157748 entry
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