''Emmenopterys henryi'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules a ...

. It is found in the temperate parts of central and southern China and in

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

. It is a deciduous tree with opposite leaves and can attain heights of 45 m and grow to be 1000 years old. The epithet is named after the Irish botanist and sinologist

Augustine Henry Augustine Henry (2 July 1857 – 23 March 1930) was a British-born Irish plantsman and sinologist. He is best known for sending over 15,000 dry specimens and seeds and 500 plant samples to Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. By 1930, he was a re ...

. The trees may not flower until they are 30–100 years old, and flowering seems to be triggered by a long hot summer. Many inflorescences are accompanied by a large white bract.

''Emmenopterys henryi'' in Europe

The first introduction to Europe was 1907 to England by Ernest Wilson. They are noted for their rare flowering. The first time that ''Emmenopterys henryi'' flowered in mainland Europe was 1971 in the arboretum of Villa Taranto on

Lago Maggiore Lake Maggiore (, ; it, Lago Maggiore ; lmo, label=Western Lombard, Lagh Maggior; pms, Lagh Magior; literally 'Greater Lake') or Verbano (; la, Lacus Verbanus) is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest la ...

, Italy. At Borde Hill Garden, West Sussex, UK there are 2 specimens with the older planted in 1928 from seed collected by George Forrest which flowered in 2011,2012, 2016 and 2018; the smaller specimen has flowered 3 times and was planted in 1976 from micropropagation of the Kew specimen that was in poor condition due to the drought. A specimen in Cambridge flowered in 2012, after 30 years, only the fifth flowering in the UK. In 2013, a tree flowered for the fourth time in the

Arboretum Kalmthout The Arboretum Kalmthout is a botanical garden in Kalmthout, Belgium. It was started as a tree plantation by Charles Van Geert in 1856. Van Geert developed a collection of rare plants and trees before selling the property after 40 years to Antoin ...

in Belgium. This was unexpected, since the flowers only appeared in September, which is quite late. After the 2018 heatwave in the UK, a 100 year old specimen in

Roath Park Roath Park ( cy, Parc y Rhath) Cardiff, Wales, is one of Cardiff's most popular parks, owned by Cardiff County Council and managed by the Parks Section. It retains a classic Victorian atmosphere and has many facilities. The park has recently ...

, Cardiff flowered for the first time ever.

References

Dialypetalantheae Trees of China Trees of Vietnam Taxa named by Daniel Oliver {{Ixoroideae-stub