Hydrangea hirta

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Hydrangea hirta
Hydrangea hirta 0805.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Cornales
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Genus: Hydrangea
Species:
H. hirta
Binomial name
Hydrangea hirta
(Thunb.) Siebold
Synonyms [1]
  • Hydrangea hirta f. albiflora
  • Hydrangea hirta f. lamalis
  • Hydrangea hirta var. albiflora.

Hydrangea hirta, also known as the "nettle-leaved hydrangea", is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae that is native to East Asia. [2] Due to the beauty and sturdiness of the species' flowers it can be found outside of its range being used for horticultural and landscaping purposes, and is found in gardens in countries including the United Kingdom and the United States. [3] [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

Hydrangea is Greek in origin, and comes from Greek hydro meaning "water" and angeion meaning "vessel" describing to the shape of the cup shaped fruit and the capsule the fruit is contained in. [5] The hirta portion of this species name means "hairy". [6] Another name for this species is Hortensia hirta. Hortensia is a Latinised version of the French given name Hortense, referring to the wife of Jean-André Lepaute. [7] In Japan the name for this species is ko-ajisai meaning small hydrangea. [8]

Natural hybrids between hydrangea species are rare, but these have been found in the Izu Peninsula of Japan between Hydrangea hirta and H. scadens. [9]

Description

A small deciduous shrub reaching 3 to 4 ft in height. [10] The shrub grows numerous stems from the base, with a canopy consisting of a single uniform layer. [11] The leaves on this shrub are deep toothed, and are covered in hairs. Hydrangea hirta has alternating leaves that are 5 to 8 cm long with an ovate shape that end in a pointed tip. Yellowing and dropping of the leaves commences in August. As the branches become older, the initially hairy branches become glabrous due to the loss of the hairs. [8]

The flowers of this shrub grow in small clusters that are light blue to white in color. An individual flower of this species measures 5 mm in diameter with 5 petals and 10 stamens; this species lacks the ornamental bracts that many other hydrangea species possess. [8] Each flower is fertile. The flower clusters contain a central stem bearing a single terminal flower that develops first, the other flowers in the cluster developing as terminal buds of lateral stems. [12] The fruit contains urceolate seeds which swell in the middle and narrow at the top. [13]

Distribution

This shrub is native to the mountain ranges of Japan, and extends from the Himalayas through China to Taiwan. [2]

Ecology

In Japan Hydrangea hirta is located in a belt of montane cool-temperate rainforest. [8] This rainforest belt had a range of 1,200 meters in elevation in Kyushu, at 1,000 – 1,800 meters in Shikoku, 800 – 1,650 meters in Chūbu and the lowlands of south Hokkaido. An example of where this species grows is in the Tsuga sieboldii forest that covers the Pacific side of Honshu and Shikoku where this shrub composes 20% to 40% shrub cover. [2]

Hydrangea hirta is a slow growing deciduous species that prefers podosolic soils that are acidic, heavily leached, and moist, with temperate climate conditions. [14] This species is shade tolerant and prefers areas of light shade with partial or full shade. This species is pollinated by bees. The blooming season starts in June or late spring and ends in the early summer. Bee pollination is not the only way this species reproduces, another form of reproduction includes the ability to form new plants from buried aerial stems that will eventually break off and make new plants. Cuttings can also be made from woody stems, semi-woody stems, and softwood stems. [8]

Uses

This species is used in horticulture, gardening and landscaping. [3] Seeds for this species can be purchased. In the European countries that this species can be found in it is notably susceptible to honey fungus.[ citation needed ] The leaves of this species have been said to be edible after they have been cooked. [15]

Related Research Articles

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

Hydrangea, commonly named the hortensia, is a genus of more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1–3 m tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

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

Carpenteria, the tree anemone or bush anemone, is a genus of flowering plants in the hydrangea family Hydrangeaceae. It is closely related to the similar genus Philadelphus and is monotypic, being represented by the single species Carpenteria californica which is a flowering evergreen shrub native to the Sierra Nevada foothills in California.

<i>Hydrangea macrophylla</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea macrophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Japan. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8 ft) broad with large heads of pink or blue flowers in summer and autumn. Common names include bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea, lacecap hydrangea, mophead hydrangea, and hortensia. It is widely cultivated in many parts of the world in many climates. It is not to be confused with H. aspera 'Macrophylla'.

<i>Hydrangea quercifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea quercifolia, commonly known as oakleaf hydrangea or oak-leaved hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, in woodland habitats from North Carolina west to Tennessee, and south to Florida and Louisiana. A deciduous shrub with white showy flower heads, it is grown as a garden plant, with numerous cultivars available commercially.

<i>Hydrangea anomala</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea anomala, the Japanese climbing-hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae native to the woodlands of the Himalaya, southern and central China and northern Myanmar.

<i>Nothofagus cunninghamii</i> Species of tree

Nothofagus cunninghamii, commonly known as myrtle beech or Tasmanian myrtle, is the dominant species of cool temperate rainforests in Tasmania and Southern Victoria. It has low fire resistance and grows best in partial shade conditions.

<i>Hydrangea petiolaris</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea petiolaris, a climbing hydrangea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae native to the woodlands of Japan, the Korean peninsula, and on Sakhalin island of easternmost Siberia in the Russian Far East.

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

Cuttsia viburnea is a shrub or bushy tree which has toothed leaves and panicles of white flowers, and that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is sometimes called silver-leaved cuttsia, and confusingly also native elderberry, honey bush or native hydrangea. C. viburnea is the only species assigned to the genus Cuttsia.

<i>Deutzia gracilis</i> Plant in the hydrangea family

Deutzia gracilis, the slender deutzia or Japanese snow flower, is a species of flowering plant in the hydrangea family Hydrangeaceae, native to Japan.

<i>Trema tomentosa <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> viridis</i> Variety of tree

Trema tomentosa var. viridis is a forest plant. In Australia it occurs from Twofold Bay in New South Wales to far northern Queensland, New Guinea and Western New Guinea. It had been recorded near Mallacoota, but is now presumed extinct in the state of Victoria.

<i>Hydrangea serrata</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea serrata is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to mountainous regions of Korea and Japan. Common names include mountain hydrangea and tea of heaven. Growing to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall and broad, it is a deciduous shrub with oval leaves and panicles of blue and pink flowers in summer and autumn (fall). It is widely cultivated as an attractive ornamental shrub throughout the world in areas with suitable climate and soil.

<i>Wilkiea huegeliana</i> Species of tree

Wilkiea huegeliana is a common small tree of rainforest in eastern Australia. Common names include common wilkiea, tetra beech, and veiny wilkiea. Originally described by French naturalist Louis René Tulasne, it was given its current name by Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle.

<i>Hydrangea integrifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea integrifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Taiwan and the Philippines at elevations above 8,000 ft..

<i>Hydrangea involucrata</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae

Hydrangea involucrata is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to Japan and Taiwan. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 2 m (7 ft) broad, with oval leaves and clusters of blue or pink flowers in late summer.

<i>Corynocarpus rupestris</i> Species of flowering plant

Corynocarpus rupestris, commonly known as the Glenugie karaka, is a rainforest tree found in eastern Australia. It is a rare plant with a ROTAP rating of 2VC-t. There are two sub-species; arborescens is a small hairless shrub or tree up to 13 metres tall with a stem diameter up to 40 cm (16 in), and sub-species rupestris grows only to 6 metres, with a stem diameter up to 17 cm (6.7 in).

<i>Elaeagnus pungens</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus pungens is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeagnaceae, known by the common names thorny olive, spiny oleaster and silverthorn; also by the family name "oleaster". It is native to Asia, including China and Japan. It is present in the southeastern United States as an introduced species, a common landscaping and ornamental plant, and sometimes an invasive species.

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

Prionotes is a genus of flowering plants endemic to Tasmania, with a single species, Prionotes cerinthoides. Commonly known as climbing heath, it is a temperate rainforest climber or a small scrambling shrub in the mountains. It usually lives in very wet, undisturbed places.

<i>Deutzia scabra</i> Species of flowering plant

Deutzia scabra is a species of flowering plant in the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae) native to Japan and introduced to mainland east Asia, Europe, and North America. In its native Japan, it is found from the Kantō region, westward to the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku. Its natural habitat is along forest edges and rocky openings. It is tolerant of disturbance and can be found growing out of stone walls, along roadsides, and in other waste areas.

<i>Alternanthera brasiliana</i> Species of plant

Alternanthera brasiliana, also known as large purple alternanthera, metal weed, bloodleaf, parrot leaf, ruby leaf, Brazilian joyweed, purple alternanthera, purple joyweed, is a flowering plant of the amaranth family that is native to the forests of South America and as well as Central America. Grown as an ornamental plant, it is very similar in appearance to Alternanthera dentata, which is listed as one of this species's synonyms.

<i>Stewartia monadelpha</i> Temperate rainforest plant

Stewartia monadelpha, known as tall stewartia or orangebark stewartia, is a deciduous shrub or multi-stemmed tree native to the temperate rainforests of Japan. Stewartia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. The genus name Stewartia is in honor of 16th century Scottish botanist, John Stuart.

References

  1. ↑ "Catalogue of Life : Hydrangea hirta (Thunb.) Siebold". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  2. 1 2 3 DellaSala, Dominick (2011). Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World . Washington: Island Press. pp.  188–189. ISBN   9781597266758.
  3. 1 2 "BlueBell Nursery - BlueBell Nursery - Trees & Shrubs - Hydrangea - Hydrangea hirta". www.bluebellnursery.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  4. ↑ "Hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta) in the Hydrangeas Database - Garden.org". garden.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  5. ↑ "hydrangea". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  6. ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (1999-11-17). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. CRC Press. ISBN   9780849326776.
  7. ↑ "Hortensia". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hydrangea hirta | Treasures of Mt. Takao". www.takao599museum.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  9. ↑ Cerbah, M.; Mortreau, E.; Brown, S.; Siljak-Yakovlev, S.; Bertrand, H.; Lambert, C. (2001-07-01). "Genome size variation and species relationships in the genus Hydrangea". Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 103 (1): 45–51. doi:10.1007/s001220000529. ISSN   0040-5752. S2CID   6690336.
  10. ↑ Andersson, Folke (2005). Coniferous Forests. Elsevier. ISBN   9780444816276.
  11. ↑ Ishii, Hiroaki; Takeda, Hiroshi (1997-07-01). "Effects of the spatial arrangement of aerial stems and current-year shoots on the demography and growth of Hydrangea hirta in a light-limited environment". New Phytologist. 136 (3): 443–453. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00770.x . ISSN   1469-8137. PMID   33863016.
  12. ↑ Kubitzki, Klaus (2013-11-11). Flowering Plants. Dicotyledons: Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN   9783662072578.
  13. ↑ Hufford, Larry (1995-07-01). "Seed Morphology of Hydrangeaceae and Its Phylogenetic Implications". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 156 (4): 555–580. doi:10.1086/297279. ISSN   1058-5893. S2CID   85030866.
  14. ↑ "Hydrangea hirta". PFAF Plant Database. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  15. ↑ Tanaka, Tyozaburo (1976). Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing Company.
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