179
196
G. A. C. HERKLOTS
This is a very beautiful Camellia with flowers two inches long and as much across when fully open, of a uniform deep rose pink, almost cerise, colour. The hundred or so bright yellow pollen-covered anthers show up brilliantly against the deep pink perianth segments. As quoted above, when first discovered only three trees were known in Hong Kong; we are glad to be able to say that there are at least several hundred trees on Hong Kong island known to us. There is one tree on Lugard Road within two or three hundred yards of the Peak Tram station, and near the top of the old Aberdeen Road there are probably at least 50 fully grown trees besides hun- dreds of seedlings. Most shrubs are easier to recognize at certain times of the year than at others. In March, C. hongkongensis can be recognized with certainty by its leaves alone at quite a considerable distance.
The young foliage is of a most unusual colour, in some lights the leaves appear blue in others purple.
In reflected light they appear olive-lead colour above deep mauve below; if held up to the light (day light) they appear purple. Once seen and recognized, these leaves cannot, when seen again, be mistaken for those of any other local shrub. The tree grows to the height of at least 20 feet.
The flower buds terminate the 2-3 inches of the previous season's growth. New growth in February and March,
The Flowering Shrubs and Trees of Hong Kong
197
the dissepiments but usually leaving a free central axis. Seeds flattish, oblique, expanded at the top into an oblong wing. Albumen o. Embryo nearly straight, with flat cotyledons.--Trees. Leaves coriaceous. Peduncles 1-flowered, erect or recurved. Flowers showy." Bentham (1) p. 29. DISTRIBUTION. Several species found in the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia and America.
I. INCH
Figure 2. Camellia hongkongensis, Seem.
NAME. A local name is, hung, char, fa', red tea flower. ILLUSTRATIONS.—Figure 1, shows flowers and leaves from different view points, inset shews method of attachment of stamens to corolla-tube; notice that the innermost stamens are almost free. Figure 2, shows the fruit before and after dehiscence.
FLOWERING PERIOD.-End of November to the middle of March.
LOCALITIES.-Victoria Peak and Happy Valley districts, Hong Kong Island. REFERENCES. (1) Bentham p. 30, (2) Crook p. 67, (3) D. and T. p. 46.
自路
GORDONIA, Linn.
Sepals about 5, much imbricated, very unequal, passing from the bracts to the petals. Petals about as many, the innermost the largest, all usually cohering at the base. Stamens numerous. Anthers short, versatile. Ovary 3- to 5-celled (rarely 6-celled), with several (4 to 8) pendulous ovules in each. Capsule woody, oblong, opening loculicidally; the valves bearing
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
6
Figure 3.
Gordonia anomala, Spreng.
GORDONIA ANOMALA, Spreng.
1. I NCH
(G. axillaris, Don. Bot. Mag. t, 2,047; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4,019).
A tree, glabrous in every part except sometimes the very young shoots and the flowers. Leaves thick and evergreen, oblong, obtuse, 3 to 5 inches long, quite entire, narrowed into a very short petiole. Flowers almost sessile in the upper axils, or 2 or 3 together at the summits of the branches, white and showy, near 3 inches diameter. Ovary usually 3-celled, but some- times 4-celled. Capsule about 1 inch long. Seeds with a wing twice as long as themselves. Cotyledons oblong, with a short oblique radicle.”
Bentham (1) p. 29.
December 1932.
180