Desmos chinensis

Desmos chinensis
Desmos chinensis; detail of the flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Annonaceae
Genus:	Desmos
Species:	D. chinensis
Binomial name
Desmos chinensis Lour.
Synonyms [1]
List Unona chinensis(Lour.) DC. Artabotrys esquiroliiH.Lév. Desmos chinensis var. brevifolius(Teijsm. & Binn. ex Boerl.) Bân Desmos chinensis var. jarawaeChakrab. & Diwakar Desmos chinensis var. laevigatus(Hook.f. & Thomson) D.Mitra Desmos chinensis var. latifolia(Hook.f. & Thomson) Karthik. & Moorthy Desmos chinensis var. lawii(Hook.f. & Thomson) Bân Desmos chinensis var. macropetalus(Teijsm. & Binn. ex Boerl.) Bân Desmos chinensis var. pubescens(Hook.f. & Thomson) Deb Desmos chinensis var. pubiflora(Hook.f. & Thomson) Karthik. & Moorthy Desmos lawii(Hook.f. & Thomson) Saff. Polyalthia lawii(Hook.f. & Thomson) Finet & Gagnep. Unona amherstianaWall. ex A.DC. Unona biglandulosaBlume Unona cordifoliaRoxb. ex Hook.f. & Thomson Unona discolorVahl Unona discolor var. angustipetalaBoerl. Unona discolor var. bracteataBlume Unona discolor var. brevifoliaTeijsm. & Binn. ex Boerl. Unona discolor var. laevigataHook.f. & Thomson Unona discolor var. latifoliaHook.f. & Thomson Unona discolor var. macropetalaTeijsm. & Binn. ex Boerl. Unona discolor var. neglectaBoerl. Unona discolor var. pachypetalaTeijsm. & Binn. ex Boerl. Unona discolor var. parvifloraMiq. Unona discolor var. pubescensHook.f. & Thomson Unona discolor var. pubifloraHook.f. & Thomson Unona discolor var. siamensisScheff. ex Boerl. Unona laevigataWall. Unona lawiiHook.f. & Thomson Unona lessertianaDunal Unona monilifera(Gaertn.) DC. Unona moniliformisSteud. Unona roxburghianaWall. Unona undulataWall. Uvaria amherstiana(Wall. ex A.DC.) Walp. Uvaria cordifoliaRoxb. Uvaria discolor(Vahl) Walp. Uvaria moniliferaGaertn. Uvaria uncataVahl ex DC. Uvaria undulataRoxb. Uvaria undulataWalp. Magnolia echininaP.Parm.

Desmos chinensis growing as a shade tree in Bangkok; note the blue metal support

Desmos chinensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Annonaceae . ^{[1] [2]} The yellowish-green flowers are similar to the Ylang-ylang flowers, therefore this plant is sometimes known as dwarf ylang-ylang. ^[3] Their smell, however, is much less strong and is only felt in the morning. By midday it has mostly faded away.

Description and habitat

It is a vine or spreading shrub that may grow up to 4 m high if it finds an adequate support, otherwise it rarely grows taller than 150 cm. ^[4] Its pollen is shed as permanent tetrads. ^[5]

Desmos chinensis is found throughout Southeast Asia from Nepal to the Philippines. It grows at the edge of forests in flat areas at elevations up to 600 m. It may grow as a ruderal plant on the sides of roads, rural causeways and other disturbed terrain. It thrives in slightly shady places.

This tree is commonly used within the Bangkok urban landscape. Desmos chinensis is used to create shade along various sidewalks and bus stops. It is widely utilised in city settings, due to its dense leaf growth which provides cool shade, a relatively thin trunk and a root system that doesn't break sidewalk pavement.

References

1. "Desmos chinensis Lour". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
2. "Desmos chinensis Lour". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
3. Desmos chinensis; Dwarf Ylang Ylang Shrub
4. Desmos chinensis
5. Walker JW (1971) Pollen Morphology, Phytogeography, and Phylogeny of the Annonaceae. Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, 202: 1-130.

External links

• Plants of the Malay Peninsula - Desmos chinensis Lour.
• Butterflycircle - Desmos chinensis, Dwarf Ylang Ylang