Halesia tetraptera

Halesia tetraptera, commonly known as the common silverbell[2] or mountain silverbell[3] (or Carolina silverbell; syn. Halesia carolina auct. non L.),[4] is a species in the family Styracaceae, native to the southeastern United States. It is cultivated as an ornamental tree.

Common silverbell
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Styracaceae
Genus: Halesia
Species:
H. tetraptera
Binomial name
Halesia tetraptera

Description

It is a small deciduous tree growing to 10 m tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 5–16 cm long and 4–7 cm broad. The flowers are 1–2.5 cm long, with a four-lobed white corolla. The fruit is a dry drupe 4 cm long, with four wings running along its length.[2][5][6]

Range

The species is found in scattered populations over much of the eastern United States, as far north as West Virginia, south to northern Florida, and west to Oklahoma. But it is thinly distributed over much of its native range, and is becoming rare in many areas.[7]

Varieties

There are two varieties of H. tetraptera:

The last taxon is much larger, up to 20–39 m tall, with larger leaves up to 20 cm long and flowers up to 3 cm long.[10]

  • Trunk
    Trunk
  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • H. tetraptera var. monticola
    H. tetraptera var. monticola

Ecology

H. tetraptera var. tetraptera has been marked as a pollinator plant, supporting and attracting butterflies and bees.[11]

References
  1. "Halesia tetraptera L." The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. KY State Nature Preserves Commission: Halesia tetraptera Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  3. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Halesia tetraptera". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. "Halesia tetraptera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  6. Bioimages: Halesia tetraptera Archived 2008-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Geographic Distribution: Halesia tetraptera (Carolina Silverbell)
  8. "Halesia tetraptera var. monticola". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. "Halesia tetraptera var. monticola (Rehder) Reveal & Seldin". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  10. Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  11. "Planting Guides" (PDF). Pollinator.org. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
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