photinia
{{Short description|Genus of shrubs in the family Rosaceae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|50|0|Eocene - recent|ref={{Cite web |title=Rosales|url=http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/orders/rosalesweb.htm|access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.mobot.org}}}}
| image = Photinia _fraseri_A.jpg
| image_caption = Photinia Glansmispel × fraseri
| display_parents = 3
| taxon = Photinia
| authority = Lindl.{{R|POWO}}
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
| synonyms = * Heteromeles M.Roem.
- Myriomeles (Lindl.) Lindl.
- × Stranvinia Coombes
| synonyms_ref = {{R|POWO}}
}}
Photinia ({{IPAc-en|f|oʊ|ˈ|t|ɪ|n|i|ə|,_|f|ə|-}}{{refn|Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607}}{{refn|{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Photinia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123205216/https://www.lexico.com/definition/Photinia |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |title=Photinia |dictionary=Lexico UK English Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} }}{{refn|{{Dictionary.com |accessdate=2016-01-22 |Photinia}}}}) is a genus of about 30 species of small trees and large shrubs, but the taxonomy has recently varied greatly,{{when|date=August 2022}} with the genera Heteromeles, Stranvaesia and Aronia sometimes included in Photinia.
They are a part of the rose family (Rosaceae) and related to the apple. The botanical genus name derives from the Greek word photeinos for shiny and refers to the often glossy leaves. Most species are evergreen, but deciduous species also occur. The small apple-shaped fruit has a size of 4 to 12 mm and forms in large quantities. They ripen in the fall and often remain hanging on the bush until well into the winter. The fruits are used as food by birds, which excrete the seeds with their droppings and thereby distribute the plant.
The natural range of these species is restricted to warm temperate Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and south to India and Thailand. They have, however, been widely cultivated throughout the world as ornamentals for their white flowers and red fruits.
The scientific name Photinia is also widely used as the common name. Another name sometimes used is "Christmas berry", but this name is a source of confusion, since it is commonly applied to plants in several genera including Heteromeles, Lycium, Schinus, and Ruscus. The name "photinia" also continues to be used for several species of small trees in the mountains of Mexico and Central America which had formerly been included in the genus Photinia.{{cite journal |last=Phipps |first=J.B. |year=1992 |title=Heteromeles and Photinia (Rosaceae subfam. Maloideae) of Mexico and Central America |journal=Canadian Journal of Botany |volume=70 |issue=11 |pages=2138–62 |doi=10.1139/b92-266 |url=http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b92-26}}
Description
Photinias typically grow from 4–15 m tall, with a usually irregular crown of angular branches; the branches are often (not always) thorny. The leaves are alternate, entire or finely toothed, varying between species from 3–15 cm in length and 1.5–5 cm wide; the majority of species are evergreen but several are deciduous. The flowers are produced in early summer in dense terminal corymbs; each flower is 5–10 mm diameter, with five rounded white petals; they have a mild, hawthorn-like scent. The fruit is a small pome, 4–12 mm across, bright red and berry-like, produced large quantities, maturing in the fall and often persisting well into the winter. The fruit are consumed by birds, including thrushes, waxwings and starlings; the seeds are dispersed in their droppings. Photinia species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including common emerald, feathered thorn and setaceous Hebrew character. Photinias are subject to leaf blight. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/photinia-blight-43033.html.
Taxonomy
Some botanists also include the closely related North American species Heteromeles arbutifolia in Photinia — as Photinia arbutifolia. The genus Stranvaesia is so similar in morphology to Photinia that its species have sometimes been included within it,{{cite journal |first=J.E. |last=Vidal |title=Notes sur quelques Rosacées Asiatique (II) (Photinia, Stranvaesia) |journal=Adansonia |volume=5 |pages=221–237 |year=1965|issue=2 |doi=10.5962/p.296406 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/296406 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |first=C. |last=Kalkman |title=The Malesian species of the subfamily Maloideae (Rosaceae) |journal=Blumea |volume=21 |pages=413–442 |year=1973 |format=PDF |url=http://repository.naturalis.nl/document/564949}} but recent molecular data{{cite journal |last1=Campbell |first1=C.S. |last2=Evans |first2=R.C. |last3=Morgan |first3=D.R. |last4=Dickinson |first4=T.A. |last5=Arsenault |first5=M.P. |title=Phylogeny of subtribe Pyrinae (formerly the Maloideae, Rosaceae): Limited resolution of a complex evolutionary history |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |volume=266 |issue=1–2 |pages=119–145 |year=2007 |doi=10.1007/s00606-007-0545-y |bibcode=2007PSyEv.266..119C |citeseerx=10.1.1.453.8954 |s2cid=13639534}} indicate that the two genera are not closely related. The genus Aronia has been included in Photinia in some classifications,{{cite journal |last1=Robertson |first1=K.R. |last2=Phipps |first2=J.B. |last3=Rohrer |first3=J.R. |last4=Smith |first4=P.G. |title=A synopsis of genera in Maloideae (Rosaceae) |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=376–394 |year=1991 |jstor=2419287 |doi=10.2307/2419287}} but recent molecular data confirm that these genera are not closely related. Other close relatives include the firethorns (Pyracantha), cotoneasters (Cotoneaster) and hawthorns (Crataegus).
A number of species have been moved to the separate genus Stranvaesia including P. amphidoxa, P. davidiana, P. nussia, and P. tomentosa.
Uses
Photinias are very popular ornamental shrubs, grown for their fruit and foliage. Numerous hybrids and cultivars are available; several of the cultivars are selected for their strikingly bright red young leaves in spring and summer. The most widely planted are:
- Photinia × fraseri (P. glabra × P. serratifolia) - red tip photinia, Christmas berry
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' - probably the most widely planted of all, this cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1442|access-date=26 May 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |date=July 2017 |page=78 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=25 April 2018}}
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Little Red Robin', a plant similar to 'Red Robin', but dwarf in stature with an ultimate height/spread of around 2–3 ft
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Camilvy'
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Curly Fantasy'
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Super Hedger' - a newer hybrid with strong upright growth
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Pink Marble' also known as 'Cassini', a new cultivar with rose-pink tinted new growth and a creamy-white variegated margin on the leaves
:*Photinia × fraseri 'Robusta'{{Cite web |url=https://www.gardensonline.com.au/gardenshed/plantfinder/show_1860.aspx |title=Photinia x fraseri Robusta {{!}} GardensOnline |last=Ltd |first=GardensOnline Pty |website=www.gardensonline.com.au |access-date=2020-02-24}}
- Photinia 'Redstart' (Stranvaesia davidiana × P. × fraseri)
- Photinia 'Palette' (parentage unknown)
- Photinia davidiana 'Fructu Luteo' (fruit yellow)
- Photinia davidiana 'Prostrata' (a low-growing form)
Toxicity
Some varieties of Photinia are toxic due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in the vacuoles of foliage and fruit cells.{{cite web |url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/ttox04.htm |work=Merck Veterinary Manual |title=Table 4: Poisonous Range Plants of Temperate North America |access-date=2011-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711100027/http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/htm/bc/ttox04.htm |archive-date=2007-07-11}} When the leaves are chewed these compounds are released and are rapidly converted to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which blocks cellular respiration. The amount of HCN produced varies considerably between taxa, and is in general greatest in young leaves.{{cite journal |url=http://www.hriresearch.org/docs/publications/JEH/JEH_1996/JEH_1996_14_3/JEH%2014-3-154-157.pdf |journal=J. Environ. Hort. |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=154–7 |date=September 1996 |author=K.A. Jacobs |author2=F.S. Santamour Jr. |author3=G.R. Johnson |author4=M.A. Dirrs |title=Differential Resistance to Entomosporium Leafspot Disease and Hydrogen Cyanide Potential in Photinia}} Ruminants are particularly affected by cyanogenic glycosides because the first stage of their digestive system (the rumen) provides better conditions for liberating HCN than the stomachs of monogastric vertebrates.{{cite web |url=http://pubstorage.sdstate.edu/AgBio_Publications/articles/ExEx4016.pdf |title=Prussic Acid Poisoning of Livestock: Causes and Prevention (ExEx 4016) |author=Lester R. Vough, E. Kim Cassel |publisher=South Dakota State University |year=2004–2006 |access-date=2011-05-04}}
Species list
The following 33 species are accepted by Plants of the World Online {{As of |2024 |08 |lc=y}}{{R|POWO}}
{{div col}}
- Photinia anlungensis {{small |T.T.Yu}}
- Photinia arbutifolia {{small |Lindl.}}
- Photinia berberidifolia {{small |Rehder & E.H.Wilson}}
- Photinia chihsiniana {{small |K.C.Kuan}}
- Photinia chingiana {{small |Hand.-Mazz.}}
- Photinia chingshuiensis {{small |(T.Shimizu) T.S.Liu & H.J.Su}}
- Photinia chiuana {{small |Z.H.Chen, Feng Chen & X.F.Jin}}
- Photinia crassifolia {{small |H.Lév.}}
- Photinia cucphuongensis {{small |T.H.Nguyên & Yakovlev}}
- Photinia davidiana {{small |(Decne.) Cardot}}
- Photinia fokienensis {{small |(Finet & Franch.) Franch. ex Cardot}}
- Photinia × fraseri {{small |Dress}}
- Photinia glabra {{small |(Thunb.) Jacob-Makoy}}
- Photinia griffithii {{small |Decne.}}
- Photinia hirsuta {{small |Hand.-Mazz.}}
- Photinia impressivena {{small |Hayata}}
- Photinia integrifolia {{small |Lindl.}}
- Photinia lanuginosa {{small |T.T.Yu}}
- Photinia lasiogyna {{small |(Franch.) C.K.Schneid.}}
- Photinia lindleyana {{small |Wight & Arn.}}
- Photinia lochengensis {{small |T.T.Yu}}
- Photinia loriformis {{small |W.W.Sm.}}
- Photinia megaphylla {{small |T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku}}
- Photinia prionophylla {{small |(Franch.) C.K.Schneid.}}
- Photinia prunifolia {{small |(Hook. & Arn.) Lindl.}}
- Photinia pustulata {{small |Lindl.}}
- Photinia raupingensis {{small|Kuan.}}
- Photinia serratifolia {{small |(Desf.) Kalkman}}
- Photinia sorbifolia {{small |W.B.Liao & W.Guo}}
- Photinia stenophylla {{small |Hand.-Mazz.}}
- Photinia taishunensis {{small |G.H.Xia, L.H.Lou & S.H.Jin}}
- Photinia tushanensis {{small |T.T.Yu}}
- Photinia undulata {{small |(Decne.) Cardot}}
- Photinia wrightiana {{small |Maxim.}}
- Photinia zhejiangensis {{small |P.L.Chiu}}
{{div col end}}
Additionally, Photinia beauverdiana is listed by POWO as a synonym of Pourthiaea arguta, but is otherwise considered in this genus.{{Cite web |title=Photinia beauverdiana - Plant Finder |url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286638 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}{{Cite web |title=Hortipedia - Photinia beauverdiana |url=https://en.hortipedia.com/Photinia_beauverdiana |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=en.hortipedia.com}}
References
External links
- [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=131653 Flora of China: Stranvaesia]
{{taxonbar |from=Q1070845}}