Michelia alba white champaca white sandalwood white jade orchid tree pak lan ngoc lan grafting
Description
The Magnoliaceae are an ancient family; fossil plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae date back 95 million years. A primitive aspect of the Magnolia family is that their large, cup-shaped flowers lack distinct petals or sepals. The large non-specialized flower parts, resembling petals, are called tepals.
The leaves, flowers, and form of Michelia resemble Magnolia, but the blossoms of Michelia generally form clusters among the leaves, rather than singly at the branch ends as Magnolia does.
Uses
Several of the larger species are locally important sources of timber. Some species, including the Champak (Michelia champaca) and M. doltsopa are grown for their flowers, both on the tree and as cut flowers. Champak flowers are also used to produce an essential oil for perfume. A few species have been introduced to gardens or as street trees outside of the Indomalaya region, including Michelia figo, M. doltsopa, and M. champaca. The genus is named after the Florentine botanist Pietro Antonio Micheli (1679–1737).
Recent changes in classification
Morphological data and molecular data recently showed that the genus Michelia is very closely related to subgenus Yulania of genus Magnolia. Many botanists now treat the genus Michelia accordingly. New combinations of names have been provided for. For further information see under genus Magnolia.
Michelia species
Michelia aenea Dandy. Native to China and Vietnam. (treated as a synonym for M. foveolata Merr. ex Dandy by J. Li (1997).
Michelia × alba DC. (syn. M. longifolia Blume). White Champaca or White Sandalwood, a hybrid between M. champaca L. and M. montana Blume
Michelia angustioblonga Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu
Michelia balansae (A. DC.) Dandy (basionym: Magnolia balansae A. DC.)
Michelia calcicola C.Y. Wu ex Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu (treated as a synonym for M. ingrata Chen & Yang by Chen & Nooteboom (1993))))
Michelia caloptila Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu (dubious taxon, according to Chen & Nooteboom (1993))
Michelia cavaleriei Finet & Gagnep.
Michelia champaca L. Champak. Native to India, Java, and the Philippines. A tree or shrub which grows from 3 to 6 meters high and wide. Glossy bright green leaves to 16 cm. Produces fragrant orange, yellow, or creamy white flowers in the spring. The flowers of this plant produce an essential oil that is used in perfume.
Michelia doltsopa Buch.-Ham. ex DC. Large shrubs and trees, growing to 30 meters. Native to the eastern Himalayas and Meghalaya subtropical forests. Varies in form from bushy to narrow and upright. Leathery dark-green leaves, 6 to 17 cm in length. Clusters of creamy white flowers in winter. Growing in popularity as a street tree in coastal California.
Michelia elegans Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu (treated as a synonym for M. cavaleriei Finet & Gagnep. by Chen & Nooteboom (1993))
Michelia elliptilimba Chen & Noot. (treated as a synonym for M. sphaerantha C.Y. Wu ex Z.S. Yue by J. Li (1997)))
Michelia figo (Lour.) Spreng. (basionym: Liriodendron figo Lour.) Banana Shrub. A slow growing shrub or small tree that can grow up to 5 meters high and nearly as wide. Densely covered with small glossy green leaves. Bears clusters of large, white, sometimes purple-streaked, flowers with a potent, sweet banana scent. Port Wine is a variety that bears rose to maroon flowers.
Michelia flaviflora Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu
Michelia floribunda Finet & Gagnep.
Michelia foveolata Merr. ex Dandy
Michelia fujianensis Q.F. Zheng
Michelia fulgens Dandy (treated as a synonym for M. foveolata Merr. ex Dandy by Gagnepain (1939))))
Michelia fulva Chang & Chen
Michelia fuscata (Andrews) Blume ex Wall. (basionym: Magnolia fuscata Andrews; treated as a synonym for M. figo (Lour.) Spreng. by Baillon (1866))
Michelia guangxiensis Y.-W. Law & R.-Z. Zhou
Michelia hedyosperma Y.-W. Law (treated as a synonym for M. hypolampra Dandy by Chen & Nooteboom (1993))
Michelia hypolampra Dandy
Michelia ingrata Chen & Yang
Michelia iteophylla C.Y. Wu ex Y.-W. Law & Y.-F. Wu (synonym for Michelia formosana (Kaneh.) Masam. & Suzuki because the type is the same; M. formosana in its turn is treated as a synonym for M. compressa (Maxim.) Sarg. by Chen & Nooteboom (1993))
