Common silverbell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common silverbell |
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Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Halesia
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Species: |
tetraptera
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Halesia tetraptera, commonly known as the common silverbell or mountain silverbell (or Carolina silverbell; syn. Halesia carolina auct. non L.), is a species in the family Styracaceae, native to the southeastern United States. It is cultivated as an ornamental tree.
Contents
Description
It is a small deciduous tree growing to 10 m tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 5–16 cm long and 4–7 cm broad. The flowers are 1–2.5 cm long, with a four-lobed white corolla. The fruit is a dry drupe 4 cm long, with four wings running along its length.
Range
The species is found in scattered populations over much of the eastern United States, as far north as West Virginia, south to northern Florida, and west to Oklahoma. But it is thinly distributed over much of its native range, and is becoming rare in many areas.
Varieties
There are two varieties of H. tetraptera:
- Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera – Common silverbell
- Halesia tetraptera var. monticola (Rehder) Reveal & Seldin – Mountain silverbell
The last taxon is much larger, up to 20–39 m tall, with larger leaves up to 20 cm long and flowers up to 3 cm long.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Halesia tetraptera para niños