Cercis

Last updated

Contents

Cercis
Red bud 2009.jpg
C. siliquastrum (Judas tree)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Cercidoideae
Genus: Cercis
L. [1]
Type species
Cercis siliquastrum
L. (1753)
Species

10–24; see text

Synonyms [2] [3]
  • SiliquastrumDuhamel (1755), nom. superfl.

Cercis /ˈsɜːrsɪs/ [4] is a genus of about 10 species in the subfamily Cercidoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. [1] It contains small deciduous trees or large shrubs commonly known as redbuds in the USA. [5] They are characterised by simple, rounded to heart-shaped leaves and pinkish-red flowers borne in the early spring on bare leafless shoots, on both branches and trunk ("cauliflory"). The genus contains ten species, native to warm temperate regions of North America, southern Europe, western and central Asia, and China. [2]

Cercis is derived from the Greek word κερκις (kerkis) meaning "weaver's shuttle", which was applied by Theophrastus to C. siliquastrum [6] due to the resemblance of the dry seed pod to a loom shuttle.

Cercis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including mouse moth and Automeris io (both recorded on eastern redbud). The bark of C. chinensis has been used in Chinese medicine as an antiseptic. [7]

Cercis fossils have been found that date to the Eocene. [8] [9]

Species

Cercis comprises the following species: [2] [1] [5] [10] [11] [12]

FlowersLeavesScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Redbud in Seven Springs.JPG Cercis canadensis BW-03080-81.jpg Cercis canadensis L.eastern redbudeastern North America
Cercis chinensis in Sochi.JPG Cercis chinensis's leaf.JPG Cercis chinensis BungeChinese redbudEast Asia
Cercischingii.jpg Cercis chingii ChunChing's redbudChina
Cercis chuniana F.P.MetcalfChina
Cercis chinensis 2zz.jpg Cercis chinensis 1zz.jpg Cercis glabra Pamp.Yunnan redbudChina
Cercis griffithii.jpg
Cercis griffithii OBG 2012-05-28 086 IMGP1419.jpg Cercis griffithii Boiss.Afghan redbudsouthern central Asia
Cercis occidentalis flowers 2004-03-10.jpg Cercis occidentalis, California.jpg Cercis occidentalis Torr. ex A. Graywestern redbudWestern United States
Cercis orbiculata Greeneintermountain redbudArizona and Utah
Cercis racemosa in Eastwoodhill Arboretum (3).jpg Cercis racemosa Oliv.chain-flowered redbudwestern China
Cercis siliquastrum Judas tree flowering trunk at Myddelton House, Enfield, London 03 (cropped).jpg Cercis siliquastrum kz1.jpg Cercis siliquastrum L.Judas tree or European redbudMediterranean region


The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) often bears flowers directly on its trunk. Cercis Siliquastrum Trunk and Blossom.jpg
The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) often bears flowers directly on its trunk.

The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is 10–15 m tall tree native to the south of Europe and southwest Asia. It is found in Iberia, southern France, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, and Asia Minor, and forms a low tree with a flat spreading head. In early spring it is covered with a profusion of magenta flowers which appear before the leaves. The flowers are edible and are sometimes eaten in a mixed salad or made into fritters with a flavor described as an agreeably acidic bite. The tree was frequently figured in the 16th and 17th-century herbals. It is said to be the tree from which Judas Iscariot hanged himself after betraying Christ, but the name may also derive from "Judea's tree", after the region encompassing Israel and Palestine where the tree is commonplace.

A smaller Eastern American woodland understory tree, the eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, is common from southernmost Canada to Piedmont, Alabama, and East Texas. It differs from C. siliquastrum in its pointed leaves and slightly smaller size (rarely over 12 m tall). The flowers are also used in salads and for making pickled relish, while the inner bark of twigs gives a mustard-yellow dye. It is commonly grown as an ornamental. [13]

The related western redbud, Cercis occidentalis, ranges from California east to Utah primarily in foothill regions. Its leaves are more rounded at the tip than the relatively heart-shaped leaves of the eastern redbud. The tree often forms multi-trunked colonies that are covered in bright pink flowers in early spring (February - March). White-flowered variants are in cultivation. It buds only once a year.[ citation needed ]

The species of Cercis in North America form a clade. Hopkins (1942) [14] established a two-species system for North America which is still widely recognized. Alternatively, based on an exploratory morphometric analysis, Isely (1975) [15] inferred up to six separate entities (“phases”). Barneby (1989) [16] recognized only one continental species and treated all of western North American Cercis as C. canadensis var. orbiculata, but the justification was cursory and not definitive. Morphometric studies of North American Cercis [17] [12] indicate that, although morphological variation is strongly correlated with geography across North America, considerable overlap in flower, fruit, and leaf characters limit their use for taxon delimitation.

In contrast to morphology, molecular phylogenetic analyses recover three geographically well-defined clades within North America, with California Cercis forming a clade that is sister to a clade formed by Colorado Plateau and eastern North American clades. [12] Molecular dating suggests a divergence time among these three clades of at least 12 million years. These clades were also inferred from a distance-based analysis of Cercis in the United States with isozyme data as reported in an unpublished Ph.D. dissertation (Ballenger 1992). On the basis of these studies, Cercis is treated as comprising three species, with the Colorado Plateau and all Arizona specimens recognized as C. orbiculata, distinct from C. occidentalis from California and C. canadensis from eastern North America. This delimitation of species will also be employed for the treatment of the genus for Flora of North America (Ballenger and Vincent, in preparation).

The chain-flowered redbud (Cercis racemosa) from western China is unusual in the genus in having its flowers in pendulous 10 cm (4 in) racemes, as in a Laburnum, rather than short clusters.[ citation needed ]

Wood

The wood is medium weight, somewhat brittle, of light tan color with a noticeably large heartwood area of darker brown, tinged with red. The wood has attractive figuring and is used in wood turning, for making decorative items and in the production of wood veneer.

Related Research Articles

<i>Mimosa</i> Genus of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae

Mimosa is a genus of about 600 species of herbs and shrubs, in the mimosoid clade of the legume family Fabaceae. Species are native to the Americas, from North Dakota to northern Argentina, and to eastern Africa as well as the Indian subcontinent and Indochina. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μῖμος (mimos), an "actor" or "mime", and the feminine suffix -osa, "resembling", suggesting its 'sensitive leaves' which seem to 'mimic conscious life'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mimosoideae</span> Subfamily of legumes

The Mimosoideae are a traditional subfamily of trees, herbs, lianas, and shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae) that mostly grow in tropical and subtropical climates. They are typically characterized by having radially symmetric flowers, with petals that are twice divided (valvate) in bud and with numerous showy, prominent stamens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabaceae</span> Family of legume flowering plants

The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, are a large and agriculturally important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants, which are easily recognized by their fruit (legume) and their compound, stipulate leaves. The family is widely distributed, and is the third-largest land plant family in number of species, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with about 765 genera and nearly 20,000 known species.

<i>Sambucus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Sambucus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae. The various species are commonly referred to as elder, elderflower or elderberry.

<i>Cercis canadensis</i> Species of tree

Cercis canadensis, the eastern redbud, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, native to eastern North America from southern Michigan south to central Mexico, west to New Mexico. Species thrive as far west as California and as far north as southern Ontario. It is the state tree of Oklahoma. The prevalence of the so-called "Columbus strain" has seen the residents of Columbus, Wisconsin embrace the plant into their city's identity. Known as the "Redbud City," the town hosts "Redbud Day" annually the Saturday before Mother's Day, organizing a variety of themed events to recognize the tree.

<i>Calliandra</i> Genus of legumes

Calliandra is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains about 140 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cauliflory</span> Botanical term referring to plants that flower from their main stems

Cauliflory is a botanical term referring to plants that flower and fruit from their main stems or woody trunks, rather than from new growth and shoots. It is rare in temperate regions but common in tropical forests.

<i>Senna</i> (plant) Genus of flowering leguminous plants

Senna, the sennas, is a large genus of flowering plants in the legume family. This diverse genus is native throughout the tropics, with a small number of species in temperate regions. The number of species is estimated to be from about 260 to 350. The type species for the genus is Senna alexandrina. About 50 species of Senna are known in cultivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detarioideae</span> Subfamily of legumes

The subfamily Detarioideae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae (legumes). This subfamily includes many tropical trees, some of which are used for timber or have ecological importance. The subfamily consists of 84 genera, most of which are native to Africa and Asia. Pride of Burma and tamarind are two of the most notable species in Detarioideae. It has the following clade-based definition:

The most inclusive crown clade containing Goniorrhachis marginataTaub. and Aphanocalyx cynometroidesOliv., but not Cercis canadensisL., Duparquetia orchidaceaBaill., or Bobgunnia fistuloides(Harms) J. H. Kirkbr. & Wiersema.

<i>Cercis occidentalis</i> Species of tree

Cercis occidentalis, the western redbud or California redbud, is a small tree or shrub in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is found across the American Southwest, from California to Utah and Arizona.

<i>Cercis siliquastrum</i> Species of tree

Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas tree or Judas-tree, is a small deciduous tree in the flowering plant family Fabaceae which is noted for its prolific display of deep pink flowers in spring. It is native to Southern Europe and Western Asia.

Rupert Charles Barneby was a British-born self-taught botanist whose primary specialty was the Fabaceae (Leguminosae), the pea family, but he also worked on Menispermaceae and numerous other groups. He was employed by the New York Botanical Garden from the 1950s until shortly before his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cercidoideae</span> Subfamily of legumes

Cercidoideae is a subfamily in the pea family, Fabaceae. Well-known members include Cercis (redbuds), including species widely cultivated as ornamental trees in the United States and Europe, Bauhinia, widely cultivated as an ornamental tree in tropical Asia, and Tylosema, a semi-woody genus of Africa. The subfamily occupies a basal position within the Fabaceae and is supported as monophyletic in many molecular phylogenies. At the 6th International Legume Conference, the Legume Phylogeny Working Group proposed elevating the tribe Cercidae to the level of subfamily within the Leguminosae (Fabaceae). The consensus agreed to the change, which was fully implemented in 2017. It has the following clade-based definition:

The most inclusive crown clade containing Cercis canadensisL. and Bauhinia divaricataL. but not Poeppigia proceraC.Presl, Duparquetia orchidaceaBaill., or Bobgunnia fistuloides(Harms) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersema.

<i>Samanea</i> Genus of legumes

Samanea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes four species of trees native to the tropical Americas, ranging from Belize to Paraguay, and to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Habitats include tropical moist evergreen and seasonally-dry deciduous forest, woodland, and wooded grassland. It belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. The type species is Samanea saman from South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophoreae</span> Tribe of legumes

The tribe Sophoreae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae. Traditionally this tribe has been used as a wastebasket taxon to accommodate genera of Faboideae which exhibit actinomorphic, rather than zygomorphic floral symmetry and/or incompletely differentiated petals and free stamens. Various morphological and molecular analyses indicated that Sophoreae as traditionally circumscribed was polyphyletic. This led to a re-circumscription of Sophoreae, which resulted in the transfer of many genera to other tribes. This also necessitated the inclusion of two former tribes, Euchresteae and Thermopsideae, in the new definition of Sophoreae. Tribe Sophoreae, as currently circumscribed, consistently forms a monophyletic clade in molecular phylogenetic analyses. The Sophoreae arose 40.8 ± 2.4 million years ago.

<i>Cercis chinensis</i> Species of tree

Cercis chinensis, the Chinese redbud, is a plant in the legume the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to China, where it grows in southern and north-central China and Manchuria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yerevan Botanical Garden</span>

The Yerevan Botanical Garden of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, is the body responsible for plant collections in Armenia. It is located in the Avan district at the north-eastern part of the capital Yerevan, occupying around 80 hectares of a semi-deserted area. The collection includes more than 200 species of endemic, rare and declining plants, and provides a basis, in a relatively natural environment, for the study of the Armenian flora and the ecological interactions between plant species.

<i>Frasera caroliniensis</i> Species of plant

Frasera caroliniensis, commonly known as American columbo or yellow gentian, is a herbaceous perennial of the gentian family Gentianaceae found in the deciduous forest of Southern Ontario and throughout the eastern and southeastern United States. It was previously known as Swertia caroliniensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dialioideae</span> Subfamily of legumes

The subfamily Dialioideae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae (legumes). This subfamily includes many tropical trees and shrubs. The subfamily consists of 17 genera, which are widespread throughout the tropics. It has the following clade-based definition:

The most inclusive crown clade containing Poeppigia proceraC.Presland Dialium guianense(Aubl.) Sandwith, but not Cercis canadensisL., Duparquetia orchidaceaBaill., or Bobgunnia fistuloides(Harms) J. H. Kirkbr. & Wiersema

<i>Senna surattensis</i> Species of leguminous plant

Senna surattensis is a plant species of the legume family (Fabaceae) in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Genus: Cercis L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2011-04-17. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  2. 1 2 3 Ceratonia L. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  3. Wunderlin RP. (2010). "Reorganization of the Cercideae (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae)" (PDF). Phytoneuron . 48: 1–5.
  4. Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  5. 1 2 "Cercis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  6. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. I: A-C. CRC Press. p. 485. ISBN   978-0-8493-2675-2.
  7. redbud. (2008). In The Columbia Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/columency/redbud
  8. Jia H, Manchester SR (2014). "Fossil leaves and fruits of Cercis L. (Leguminosae) from the Eocene of western North America". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 175 (5): 601–612. doi:10.1086/675693. JSTOR   10.1086/675693. S2CID   84535035.
  9. McNair, D.M.; D.Z. Stults; B. Axsmith; M.H. Alford; J.E. Starnes (2019). "Preliminary investigation of a diverse megafossil floral assemblage from the middle Miocene of southern Mississippi, USA" (PDF). Palaeontologia Electronica . 22 (2). doi:10.26879/906. S2CID   198410494.
  10. "ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Cercis". International Legume Database & Information Service. Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  11. "The Plant List entry for Cercis". The Plant List . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden. 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 Fritsch, P.W., C.F. Nowell, L.S.T. Leatherman, W. Gong, B.C. Cruz, D.O. Burge, and A. Delgado-Salinas. 2018. Leaf adaptations and species boundaries in North American Cercis: implications for the evolution of dry floras. American Journal of Botany 105(9): 1577–1594.
  13. "Eastern redbud". Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. Hopkins, M. 1942. Cercis in North America. Rhodora 44: 192--211.
  15. Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 25(2): 1--228.
  16. Barneby, R. C. 1989. Fabales. In: A. Cronquist, A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, and P. K. Holmgren, eds. 1989. Intermountain Flora Volume Three. Part B. Bronx: New York Botanical Garden Press.
  17. Fritsch, P. W., A. M. Schiller, and K. W. Larson. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34: 510--520.

Further reading