''Exochorda'' is a small

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Rosaceae,

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to China and central Asia (Turkestan). They are used as ornamental plants with the common name pearl bush, or pearlbush. Numerous

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

have been described on the basis of differing appearance and geographical separation, but a systematic studyGao Fangyou. 1998. Exochorda: ''five species or one?: a biosystematic study of the Rosaceous genus'' Exochorda. Wageningen University Dissertation published as a book. revealed that the different types are closely related and probably all descended from a single species that formerly had a wide distribution that has been fragmented by habitat loss. As a single species the correct name is '' E. racemosa''.

Description

They are

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

s growing tall. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are paddle-shaped oval, long, with an entire or bluntly serrated margin. The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are white, with five petals, produced in spring on the ends of the branches. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a dry coccetum consisting of five fused

carpel Gynoecium (; ; : gynoecia) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more ...

s, which split to release the flattened

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

s. Lindley wrote in the original description of the genus "The free placentary chords external to the carpels have suggested the name of the genus."

Cultivation

A valuable garden hybrid is known as ''E.'' × ''macrantha'' C.K.Schneid. or ''Exochorda'' 'The Bride'. Lemoine's catalog of 1904 C. K. Schneider, translated by Wikipedia">Camillo_Karl_Schneider.html" ;"title="s cited by Camillo Karl Schneider">C. K. Schneider, translated by Wikipediastated "We obtained this hybrid by fertilizing ''E. alberti'' with pollen from ''E. grandiflora''. The clusters of flowers which terminate each shoot, are erect or horizontal, each one with 8 to 10 large flowers, well opened and unfolded, snow white. This new shrub has the vigorous growth of ''E. grandiflora''. As an isolated specimen the effect is magnificent." This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Gallery

Image:Pearlbush Exochorda racemosa Leaf Stalk 2000px.jpg, Leaves Image:Exochorda x macrantha flowers.jpg, ''E.'' × ''macrantha'' 'The bride', flowers Image:Exochorda the bride E.jpg, Young fruit Image:Exochorda ripe fruit.jpg, Fully open fruit after the seeds have dispersed

References

External links

Flora of China: ''Exochorda''
*Huxley, A. (1992). ''The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening'' 2: 274. Macmillan. *''Trees & Shrubs'', Botanica, 1987, pg. 373. *http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/310.shtml BBC Gardening Plant Finder {{Taxonbar, from=Q137339 Exochordeae Monotypic Rosaceae genera