thumb|right|Gordonia lasianthus leaf and branch

thumb|right|Gordonia lasianthus beginning to bloom, June, N. Florida

thumb|right|[[Gordonia idahoensis fossils]]

Gordonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, related to Franklinia, Camellia and Stewartia. It includes 22 species native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States and southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. it differs in being deciduous and flowering in late summer, not late winter. The draft Flora of China account of Theaceae in China split Gordonia into two genera, with G. lasianthus retained in Gordonia, and the Asian species transferred to Polyspora.

Species

22 species are accepted.

  • Polyspora axillaris (as G. axillaris )
  • Polyspora ceylanica (as G. ceylanica )
  • Polyspora chrysandra (as G. chrysandra )
  • Polyspora gardneri (as G. speciosa )
  • Polyspora hainanensis (as G. hainanensis )
  • Polyspora hirtella (as G. hirtella )
  • Polyspora longicarpa (as G. longicarpa )
  • Polyspora maingayi (as G. maingayi )
  • Polyspora multinervis (as G. multinervis )
  • Polyspora penangensis (as G. penangensis )
  • Polyspora scortechinii (as G. scortechinii )
  • Polyspora singaporeana (as G. singaporeana )
  • Polyspora taipingensis (as G. taipingensis )
  • Polyspora tonkinensis (as G. tonkinensis )
  • Pyrenaria hirta (as G. hirta )
  • Schima sinensis (as G. sinensis )
  • Schima wallichii (as G. wallichiii )

Cultivation and uses

Several species of Gordonia are grown as ornamental plants for their flowers produced in winter when few other trees are in flower. They are however difficult to grow compared to the similar but generally smaller-growing camellias.

References

  • Flora of China: draft text of Theaceae