Mountain Dragon Eye Family ( Middle ): Wood Lily
6. Mountain Longan genus
Mountain Longan (scientific name: Helicia), in the angiosperm APG III taxonomy belongs to the Order of Mountain Longan, a genus of about 100 species under the mountain longan family, distributed from southern India, Japan, southeast of Australia, the main distribution is in New Guinea and Southeast Asia.
There are 20 species of plants in this genus in the Chinese mainland, of which ten are endemic. There are 3 species in Taiwan. It is produced in the southwest to Taiwan, especially in Hainan. Model species of the genus: Small Fruit Mountain Longan Helicia cochinchinensis Lour.
(1) Morphological characteristics
Trees or shrubs; leaves alternate, rarely near-paired or rotational, full margin or tooth deficiency; flowers are both sexes, arranged in a total inflorescence of axillaries, radiative symmetry; small bracts, chiseled or sometimes leaf-like, late or early falling; calyx tubes are slender and straight, slightly enlarged and oblong when buds are ovate or oblong, lobes 4, linear, rolled back when open; anthers are born in the enlarged part of the sepals, oblong, the septum is elongated and prominent, no filaments; 4 lower glands, detached or combined into a ring or cup; upper ovary, sessile, 1 chamber, 2 ovules, Basal or lateral, lateral, lateral, club-like at the top of the flower column; nuts are nearly spherical or oblong, not cracked or sometimes irregularly cracked; 1 seed, nearly spherical or 2 are hemispherical, wingless, the seed coat is often rough; the cotyledons are thick and fleshy. Trees or shrubs. The leaves are alternate, sparsely paraphytes or near-round, fully margined or marginally toothed, and the petiole is long or almost nothing. The inflorescence is inflorescence, axillary or on the branches, and is sparsely parietal. Flower amphoteric, radiative symmetry; peduncles are usually twins, separated or the lower half are attached to each other; bracts are usually small, ovate lanceolate to drill-shaped, thin leaves, late or early fall; small bracts are tiny; flowers are erect when ducted, slender, with a rod-like top to nearly spherical, flower discrete and outerly coiled when flowering; 4 stamens, born on the eaves of the flower, the filaments are short or few, the anthers are oval, the medicinal septum is slightly prominent, short-pointed; the outer wall of the pollen grain is nearly smooth; 4 glands, detached or basal syngenesis, or have ring-shaped or cup-shaped flower discs; ovary sesses, The flower column is slender, the top is rod-shaped, the stigma is small, the apical, basal placenta or lateral membrane placenta, 2 ovules, upside down. Nuts, non-splitting, irregular cracking along the abdominal suture, leather or bark, thin outer flesh, inner leather or wood (not produced in mainland China); 1-2 seeds, nearly spherical or hemispherical, seed coat membranous, cotyledon fleshy, upper part wrinkled.
(2) Mountain Dragon's Eye
Mountain Dragon Eye (scientific name: Helicia formosana), also known as Taiwanese mountain longan, mountain loquat, vegetable tendon, is a species of mountain longan in the family Mountain Dragon's Eye. Trees, 5 to 10 meters tall, reddish-brown bark, young branches and inflorescences are densely covered with rust-colored short fluff. It is produced in southwest Guangxi, Hainan Island, Guangdong and Taiwan. It grows at altitudes (150 to 1000 m) in moist evergreen broad-leaved forests in mountains or ravines at an altitude of 340 to 1000 m. It is also found in northern Vietnam. The wood is pale red and is suitable for furniture or decoration.
(3) Xiaoguoshan Longan
Small fruit mountain longan (scientific name: Helicia cochinchinensis), also known as the red leaf tree, is a small tree in the genus Longan in the family Mountain Longan. Its leaves are oblong or lanceolate, knotted with spherical nuts. Because the fruit is smaller than the mountain longan, it is called the small fruit mountain longan. Its seeds can be pressed for oil and are used as raw materials for soaps and lubricants.
It grows at an altitude of 550-1700 meters in the valley in the shade and wet places. It is found in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China. It is also produced in Vietnam and Japan.
7. Rockery Longan genus
The genus Heliciopsis is a genus of the family Haliciopsis. About 10 species. It is found in Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. There are 3 species produced in mainland China, which are distributed in the tropical evergreen broad-leaved forests of Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong Southeast Asia.
Trees, hermaphroditic. The leaves are alternate, fully margined or multi-lobed to pinnate, and the petiole is long or almost absent. Inflorescence, axillary or on the branches; flower unisexual, radiant symmetry; peduncles are usually twin; bracts are drilled or lanceolate, near-dwelling; small bracts are small and often fall early; flowers are erect, slender, rod-like or oval at the top when ducted buds, the flowers of the female flowers are slightly expanded at the base of the tube, the flowers are separated and rolled outwards when flowering; the stamens are born on the eaves of the duvet, the filaments are few or very short, the anthers are oval, the medicinal septum is slightly prominent; the female flowers have sterile stamens; the pollen grains have reticulated; 4 glands, detached or close; the ovary is sessile, and the flower column is slender. The top is rod-shaped or slightly flattened, the top of the column is born or biased to one side, the apical placenta, 2 ovules, straight, overhanging; the male flowers have sterile pistils. Stone fruit, outer fruit leather, medium peel fleshy, dry with residual radial arrangement of soft fibers or spongy fibers, rare residual fibers, inner peel wood, small depression on the surface; seeds 1-2, spherical or hemispherical, seed coat membranous, cotyledon flesh. Model species: Malay rockery longan Heliciopsis velutina (Prain) Sleum.
(2) Rockery Longan
The rockery longan ( scientific name : Heliciopsis henryi ) is a species of the genus " Longan " in the family " Mountain " . The distribution area is located in tropical monsoon forests and rainforest areas, and the vertical distribution can reach the mountain monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest belt. The hydrothermal conditions in the production area have a large variation, the average annual temperature is about 18 °C to 25 °C, the extreme minimum temperature is 1.7-5.7 °C, the annual rainfall is 1100-1700 (a 2 700) mm, and the average annual relative humidity is about 80%. The soils are brick red soil and brick red soil. Growing in sparse or dense forests, it requires a certain amount of shade. The number of populations per unit area is small, and it often grows sporadically in a single plant or three or two plants.
The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruit period is from July to November. There are more flowers and fewer fruits, and the fruits are mostly eaten by animals after they mature and land on the ground. Natural regeneration is difficult, and seedlings under the forest are scarce.
In China, it is distributed in Lingshui, Yaxian County, Hainan, Baise and 100,000 Mountains in Guangxi, Simao, Xishuangbanna, Lancang, Cangyuan, Luxi and other places in Yunnan. Roughly in the range of 18°-24° north latitude and 98°-111° east longitude. It grows at an altitude of 500–1500 (-1800) m in mixed woods on the slopes of the Xiangyang Mountains. It is also found in northern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Protective value: the fruit is edible, the stem bark can be used for medicinal purposes, and has a certain economic value. This compound has a sedative effect and is mainly used for the treatment of neurasthenia, neurasthenia syndrome and vascular neuropathic headache. It occupies a relatively primitive and isolated position in phylogenetic evolution, and belongs to the Asian tropical fauna component, which has certain academic significance for phylogenetic evolution and continental tropical fauna research.
Endangered: Endangered species. The artificial longan is only distributed in a narrow area of western Yunnan. Due to the serious destruction of vegetation, the poor changes in habitat conditions have led to a gradual decrease in the amount of plants and have fallen into a situation of extinction.
8.Kiyuri genus
Leucadendro, formerly known as the silver leaf tree genus, is also known as the African tulip as an ornamental flower. This genus was once confused with the genus Protea, which is now known as the genus Monarch. Because of its silver leaves, it was once known as the genus Silver Leaf Tree, and is now collectively known as the genus Wood Lily. However, when the name was set, it was still "silver leaf tree", and the old species name included "Bai'ao Mountain Dragon's Eye".
The genus is a multi-branched shrub with very strong rhizomes that germinate and grow quickly even after a fire. Under natural conditions, the genus can grow to a height of 0.75-2 m. Changes in the growing climatic conditions, such as from the warm winter climate in the plains to the snow and frost in the mountains, as well as the changes in leaves and bracts, such as from yellow-green to bright orange-red, the genus lily can "adapt" and become the main variety of horticultural planting. In addition, she can also adapt to large-intensity pruning, which can meet the needs of large-scale production of cut flowers.
Wood lily, is one of the most widely distributed varieties in the Protea family, is the national flower of the Republic of South Africa, with a huge flower queen, exceptionally beautiful colors and elegant shapes off the world's precious flowers, known as the king of flowers, monarch flowers are perennial, multi-flowered stem evergreen shrub plants, plant lifespan of up to 100 years or more, wood lilies in the leaves and bracts in the size, color of the variety. The wood lily is dioecious, which is rare in the Protea family, and her long flowering period (May-December), combined with colorful leaves and the bracts that surround the buds, make her a very attractive garden tree species. Under natural conditions, the wood lily can grow to a height of 0.75m to 2m, which is suitable for the warm winter climate in the plain area to the ice and snow frost weather in the mountains, making the wood lily the main choice of horticultural planting. Wood lilies are multi-branched shrubs with very strong rhizomes that germinate and grow quickly even after a fire. As well as the changes in leaves and bracts, such as from yellow-green to bright orange-red, wood lilies can "strain" and become the main varieties of horticultural planting. In addition, she can also adapt to large-intensity pruning, which can meet the needs of large-scale production of cut flowers.
(2) Growth environment
It can adapt to different soil types and grows on mountains from sea level to 2000 meters high. There are very strong rhizomes that germinate and grow quickly even after a fire. Under natural conditions, wooden lilies can grow to a height of 0.75-2 meters. The requirements for external environmental conditions are not strict, such as from the warm winter climate in the plain area to the ice and snow frost weather in the mountains.
(3) Main value
Protea only occasionally has a "stunning glimpse" of the flower market in China's big cities during the New Year's Festival, most of which are imported from the Netherlands or Australia, but because the price is very expensive, the average person is very excited. If this beloved flower can be made into the homes of the people, the potential market is huge. In addition, South Africa's production is limited, and the demand in the international market is very large, while China and South Africa's season is just the opposite, if China can successfully plant, it will greatly alleviate the demand of the international market and achieve good benefits in the seasonal shortage of supplies.
The wood lily in the Imperial Flower Family series is not related to the lily we are familiar with, which is just the name it was when it stepped into Hong Kong territory. In fact, it is a collective term for plants of the genus Leucadendron in the family Diplodontidae. Because of its beautiful and peculiar appearance, it is somewhat similar to tulips, so it is also known as African tulips. The wood lily in full bloom is beautiful and pure, with many flower colors such as bright yellow, purple red and green. Due to its peculiar shape, it is deeply loved by the public, especially floriculture lovers. Its viewing point lies in its clustered leaves and multi-colored bracts. Therefore, in many high-end floral and floriculture displays, it is indispensable to its exquisite and changeable figure.
The wood lily is the most widely distributed variety in the monarch flower family, and its hermaphroditic strain is rare in the monarch flower family. Its multi-branched shrubs have very strong rhizomes, which allows it to sprout and grow rapidly in the barren land of South Africa. The long flowering period (from May to December) and the addition of colorful leaves and bracts make it a very attractive garden tree species. Under natural conditions, wood lilies can grow to a height of 1 to 2 m, adapting to the warm winter climate of the plains to the ice and snow frost weather of the mountains, making the wood lily the main choice of horticultural planting. On the market, it is both a fresh cut flower and an excellent dried flower material.
9. Needle pad flower genus
Leucospermum, also known as rheumatoid flower, is a genus of the mountain longan family, containing more than fifty species of flowering plants, including needle pad flower (also known as wind wheel flower, needle pad mountain longan). It is found in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and its habitats include shrubs, forests and slopes.
It is called a needle pad flower because when the flower blooms, it is like a needle pad full of needles. The dense inflorescence is conspicuous, hence its name. Evolutionarily , the genus is closely related to the Banks flower native to Australia.
Needle pad flowers are evergreen shrubs (a few are dwarf trees) and are generally between half and five meters tall. The leaves are rotational, mostly needle-like or spear-tip-like, 2 - 12 cm long, 0.5 - 3 cm wide, edged or only serrated at the tip of the leaf, and tough as leather.
Needle mat flowers are upright or creeping shrubs native to South Africa. The leaves are sessile, clustered, and the leaves are ovate. capitulum. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. Prefers a humid, sunny and well-ventilated environment. The soil is required to be fertile and well drained. The growing period should be fully watered, and the winter is not hardy, and it is propagated by sowing and cutting, generally in the spring. It is used for landscaping potting and high-grade cut flowers.
Cephalic inflorescences, solitary or few polygonal. The small corolla is barrel-shaped, with long flower columns, like needle pads, and flowers are both sexes. Flowering occurs in summer. The leaves are rotational, mostly needle-like or spear-tip-like, 2 to 12 cm long, 0.5 to 3 cm wide, edged or only serrated at the tip of the leaf, and tough as leather.
Evergreen vine shrubs, a few are small trees, impellers, hard, mostly needle-like, heart-shaped or spear-tiped, with serrated edges or leaf tips; dense, head-shaped inflorescences, solitary or few polygonal; small corolla, needle-like. The description of its botanical features shows that the plant is somewhat ancient and primitive. Indeed, the needle pad flower is a plant variety native to South Africa that grows in acidic, barren soils and blooms during the rainy winter season and hot, dry summer. In the past Imperial Flower Show, there is a plant that always attracts countless long guns and short cannons with its bright charm, and its scene is no less than the fiery atmosphere on the South African football field, which is the needle pad flower.
Needle pad flowers, shaped like their name, when the flowers bloom like a large needle inserted in a spherical needle pad, very rare, very beautiful. The colors are bright and dazzling, colorful, very popular, common colors are red, yellow, orange and so on. In fact, the fist-sized flower balls we see are composed of countless small flowers, and the "needles" that stick out are the flower buds that dance one by one. It is understood that there is another very attractive scenery in the season of needle pad blossoms in South Africa, that is, countless small birds around the flowers. Needle pad flowers cannot be pollinated by flowers, and must attract a variety of insects with rich nectar, and these insects must travel through dense "needle forests" to enjoy sweet nectar, and insects are the objects of hunting by birds. It is in this way that the needle pad flower attracts not only flower watchers, but also many birdwatchers.
(2) Ecological habits
Prefers warm, slightly dry and sunny environments. Not hardy, summer should be cool, avoid standing water. The growth temperature is 15 ~ 27 °C, and the winter temperature is not less than 10 °C. The soil is preferably fertile, loose and well-drained acidic sandy loam.
(3) Distribution range
This genus is closely related to the Banks flower native to Australia. Originally found in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
It is said that there are still a few golden yellow needle pad flowers in the world in the Cape Cape Reserve in South Africa, which have become rare living fossils in the plant kingdom. Today's needle pad flowers are recognized by tourists around the world through numerous flower sets, thus going abroad and distributed in every corner of the world, becoming a very popular horticultural variety and widely used as a cut flower.
The habitats include shrubs, forests and slopes.
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