Bischofia polycarpa (H. Lév.) Airy Shaw

Sponsor this page

For information about how you could sponsor this page, see How You Can Help

Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Bischofia polycarpa' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/bischofia/bischofia-polycarpa/). Accessed 2024-04-25.

Genus

Bischofia

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

dbh: Diameter (of trunk) at breast height. Breast height is defined as 4.5 feet (1.37 m) above the ground.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Bischofia polycarpa' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/bischofia/bischofia-polycarpa/). Accessed 2024-04-25.

A young plant of Bischofia polycarpa in a Pennsylvania garden, displaying its handsome red-veined leaves. Image A. Bunting.

Tree to 15 m, 0.5(–1) m dbh. Bark reddish brown, peeling longitudinally. Branchlets green with grey-white lenticels. Leaves deciduous, pinnate, terminal leaflet larger than lateral leaflets; leaflets three, papery, 5–9(–14) × 3–6(–9) cm, ovate to elliptic, margins serrate, apex acuminate to acute; petiole 9–13.5 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, pendulous racemes. Dioecious; staminate inflorescences 8–13 cm long; pistillate inflorescences 3–12 cm long. Flowers small, sepals membranous, spreading. Drupe globose, 0.5–0.7 cm diameter, reddish brown. Flowering April to May, fruiting October to November (China). Chang et al. 2005. Distribution CHINA: Anhui, Fujian, northern Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang. Habitat Montane evergreen forest between 200 and 1000 m asl. Planted in a variety of habitats in China, including as a street tree. USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Conservation status Not evaluated. Illustration NT173.

Bischofia polycarpa, although available from a few American nurseries, is nonetheless very scarce in cultivation. The only large specimen traced is at the JC Raulston Arboretum, currently about 14 m tall with dbh 34 cm. At one time there were large trees at the US National Arboretum, but these died after ‘extremely cold winters’ (Camellia Forest Nursery 2007–2008). The JCRA tree was grown from seed received by J.C. Raulston from China in 1988, and was reported on by him in 1994 as having survived a temperature low of –17 ºC in the winter of 1993–1994 (Raulston 1994). It is currently rather crowded, in an obscure corner, but has a rounded, somewhat open crown, with a canopy of light green leaves.

The trunk of Bischofia polycarpa at the JC Raulston Arboretum, June 2019. Image John Grimshaw.

Very well protected with the surrounding buildings in the center of the town, this Bischofia polycarpa has rich a good size with age. Le Botanique, Brussel, Belgium. 2 November 2010. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The same specimen of Bischofia polycarpa 8 years later, thriving in the centre of Brussel in the old botanic garden. Le Botanique, Brussel, Belgium. 17 September 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

It is very unusual to find such a rarely cultivated plant as Bischofia polycarpa in a private garden. This example was growing in the private garden of Mr Samain, near Tournai, Belgium, on 14 June 2009. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The bark of Bischofia polycarpa is reddish brown, peeling longitudinally. Private garden of Mr Samain (called Tournay-vous), Orcq, Belgium. 21 April 2010. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The leaves of Bischofia polycarpa are deciduous, pinnate, with a terminal leaflet larger than lateral leaflets. Private garden of Mr Samain, Orcq, Belgium. 30 August 2010. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Close up on the trifoliate leave and long petiole of Bischofia polycarpa. Private garden of Mr Samain, Orcq, Belgium. 30 August 2010. Image Guillaume Mamdy.