Glochidion puberum (L.) Hutch.

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Glochidion puberum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/glochidion/glochidion-puberum/). Accessed 2024-09-15.

Genus

Glochidion

Common Names

Abacus Plant

Synonyms

G. fortunei Hance

Other taxa in genus

Glochidion triandrum

Glossary

glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
imparipinnate: Odd-pinnate; (of a compound leaf) with a central rachis and an uneven number of leaflets due to the presence of a terminal leaflet. (Cf. paripinnate.)

References

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Glochidion puberum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/glochidion/glochidion-puberum/). Accessed 2024-09-15.

The regularly alternate leaves of Glochidion puberum give some value to this shrub. Kergroadez Castle (nursery), Saint-Renan, France. 18 July 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Shrub or tree to 10 m; usually multistemmed. Bark brown with closely spaced longitudinal furrows. Branchlets greyish brown, densely pubescent. Leaves deciduous, simple, 3–8 × 1–2.5(–3) cm, papery or leathery, oblong to obovate, rarely lanceolate, upper surface greyish green and glabrous, lower surface green, densely pubescent and with raised veins, four to nine secondary veins on each side of the midvein, margins entire, apex obtuse, acute or rounded; petiole 0.1–0.4 cm long, covered in ferruginous pubescence; stipules triangular, about 0.1 cm long. Inflorescences are axillary fascicles bearing 2–5(–10) monoecious, greenish yellow flowers. Fruit a rounded capsule, yellowish green to red, densely pubescent, 0.8–1.5 cm diameter. Seeds red to orange. Flowering April to August, fruiting July to November (China). Fearn & Urbatsch 2001, Chang et al. 2005. Distribution CHINA: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang; TAIWAN. Naturalised in Alabama and Florida, USA. Habitat A variety of habitats including montane slopes, forest marginal scrub and streambanks between 300 and 2200 m asl. USDA Hardiness Zone 8–9. Conservation status Not evaluated. Illustration NT380. Cross-reference K116.

Krüssmann (1985a) notes tersely that Glochidion puberum is ‘only for the collector’, and the genus has otherwise been resolutely ignored by the horticultural literature. Krüssmann also says that it is cultivated at Arboretum National des Barres. It was probably first introduced by Wilson (Sargent 1916) but in recent years has been grown from Shanghai Botanic Garden seed, and plants from this source are established at Tregrehan. In most temperate gardens it will probably grow as a shrub. It has some value for its ‘pinnate leaves’, that are in reality the shoots, and the reddish fruits along the branches. A large shrubby specimen (7 × 7 m) labelled G. puberum has grown at the Hillier Gardens for many years, but its identity is in doubt as it has glabrous leaf undersides (A. Coombes, pers. comm. 2008).

The small yellow flowers of Glochidion puberum are hidden under the foliage. Kergroadez Castle (nursery), Saint-Renan, France. 18 July 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Small greenish yellow flowers of Glochidion puberum. Kergroadez Castle (nursery), Saint-Renan, France. 18 July 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The fruit of Glochidion puberum is a yellowish green to red rounded capsule. Segrez arboretum, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, France. September 2006. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The brown bark of Glochidion puberum develops closely spaced longitudinal furrows. Segrez arboretum, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, France. 15 October 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Although often considered a collectors item, Glochidion puberum could have broader appeal thanks to good autumn colour. Segrez arboretum, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, France. 15 October 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

A handsome specimen of Glochidion puberum, a favourite of Franklin Picard, probably sourced from Les Barres arboretum. Segrez arboretum, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, France. 15 October 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Under surface of the leaves, fruit, and small greenish yellow flowers of Glochidion puberum. Segrez arboretum, Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, France. September 2006. Image Guillaume Mamdy.