Stewartia malacodendron

Stewartia malacodendron
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Stewartia
Species:
S. malacodendron
Binomial name
Stewartia malacodendron
L. (1753)
Natural range
Synonyms[2]
  • Cavanilla florida Salisb. (1796)
  • Malachodendron monogynum Dum.Cours. (1811)
  • Stewartia marilandica Andrews (1804)
  • Stewartia nobilis Salisb. (1796), nom. superfl.
  • Stewartia virginica Cav. (1788)

Stewartia malacodendron, the silky camellia,[3] silky stewartia or Virginia stewartia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Theaceae. It grows slowly into a large deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 3–4.5 m (10–15 ft) tall, but sometimes as tall as 9 m (30 ft). It is native to the southeastern United States.

The Latin specific epithet malacodendron literally means "soft tree".[4] Its common name "silky camellia" alludes to the appearance and texture of the flowers, which resemble those of the related camellias.

  1. ^ Rivers, M.C. (2015). "Stewartia malacodendron". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T62085861A62085867. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T62085861A62085867.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Stewartia malacodendron L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Stewartia malacodendron​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  4. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.