Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Pekin lilac

(Syringa reticulata pekinensis)

galery
en

Description

Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis (formerly known as Syringa pekinensis), also known as the Pekin lilac or the Chinese tree lilac, grows in an open, multi-stemmed form to a height of 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 m), with a spread of 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m). They are native to northern China but grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7. It is grown as an ornamental tree in Europe and North America. Pekin lilacs have arching branches and ovate dark green leaves that are 2 to 4 inches (51 to 102 mm) long. They have yellowish-white flowers that bloom in panicles up to 6 inches (150 mm) long. The panicles change over to loose clusters of brown capsules. The bark is a red-brown color. They grow well in moist, well-drained soil. They prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade. Syringa (lilac) is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere. The genus is most closely related to Ligustrum (privet), classified with it in Oleaceae tribus Oleeae subtribus Ligustrinae. Lilacs are used as food plants by the larvae of some moth species, including copper underwing, scalloped oak and Svensson's copper underwing. They are small trees, ranging in size from 2 to 10 metres (6 ft 7 in to 32 ft 10 in) tall, with stems up to 20 to 30 centimetres (7.9 to 11.8 in) diameter. The leaves are opposite (occasionally in whorls of three) in arrangement, and their shape is simple and heart-shaped to broad lanceolate in most species, but pinnate in a few species (e.g. S. protolaciniata, S. pinnatifolia). The flowers are produced in spring, each flower being 5 to 10 millimetres (0.20 to 0.39 in) in diameter with a four-lobed corolla, the corolla tube narrow, 5 to 20 millimetres (0.20 to 0.79 in) long; they are monoecious, with fertile stamens and stigma in each flower. The usual flower colour is a shade of purple (often a light purple or lilac), but white, pale yellow and pink, and even a dark burgundy color are also found. The flowers grow in large panicles, and in several species have a strong fragrance.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Lamiales
Family:Oleaceae
Genus:Syringa
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