Family: Malvaceae
Author: (L.) W.Wight
Bibliography: Bull. Bur. Pl. Industr. U.S.D.A. 142: 67 (1909)
Year: 1909
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Firmiana
Vegetable: False
Observations: C. & S. China to Vietnam, S. Japan to Taiwan
Description
The Chinese bottle tree, scientifically known as Firmiana simplex, is a remarkable and distinctive tree that belongs to the Malvaceae family. This fascinating species was cataloged by W.Wight in 1909, providing a robust reference for understanding its unique characteristics and broad geographical distribution.
Native to China and Southeast Asia, the Chinese bottle tree thrives from Central and Southern China to Vietnam, and from Southern Japan to Taiwan. This extensive range showcases its adaptability to different environments within East Asia, making it a prevalent feature in diverse landscapes, from forests to cultivated gardens.
The Chinese bottle tree is easily recognizable due to its distinctive trunk, which resembles a bottle — a feature that not only gives the tree its common name but also highlights its unique structural adaptation. The trunk is typically swollen at the base, possibly serving as a water reservoir, which is an advantageous trait in its native habitats, where rainfall can be unpredictable.
The tree’s foliage is another notable characteristic. It boasts large, lobed leaves that are bright green and can grow quite expansive, offering ample shade. These leaves add to the tree’s ornamental value, making it a desirable addition to gardens and parks. During the growing season, the tree produces a profusion of small, yellowish-green flowers that eventually give way to seed pods. These pods split open to release seeds adorned with a silky, cotton-like thread, aiding in their dispersal by the wind.
Beyond its ornamental appeal, the Chinese bottle tree holds cultural and practical significance in its native regions. In traditional Chinese medicine, various parts of the tree are utilized for their purported health benefits. Additionally, the fibers from its bark have been historically used in the production of ropes and textiles.
Overall, the Chinese bottle tree is not just visually striking but also an important botanical specimen with a range of uses and ecological adaptations. Its presence in diverse regions from China to Taiwan and Japan underscores its versatility and resilience, cementing its status as a valued species both in natural and cultivated settings.
Common Names
Eng: chinese bottle tree, chinese parasol-tree, chinese parasoltree, chinese-bottletree, japanese varnish tree, japanese varnishtree, phoenixtree, sycamore-leaf sterculia
Deu: chinesischer sonnenschirmbaum
En: Chinese bottle tree, Chinese parasol-tree, Chinese parasoltree, Chinese-bottletree, Japanese varnish tree, Japanese varnishtree, Phoenixtree, Sycamore-leaf sterculia, Chinese Parasol, Phoenix Tree
Ca: Para-sol de la Xina
Fr: Parasol chinois, Sterculier à feuilles de platane
De: Chinesischer Sonnenschirmbaum, Parasolbaum
It: Sterculia
Es: Parasol de la China
Synonyms
- Sterculia tomentosa (Thunb.)
- Sterculia pyriformis (Bunge)
- Sterculia firmiana (J.F.Gmel.)
- Firmiana platanifolia f. tomentosa ((Thunb.) H.Hara)
- Firmiana simplex var. glabra (Hatus.)
- Sterculia platanifolia (L.f.)
- Firmiana platanifolia ((L.f.) Marsili)
- Sterculia simplex ((L.) Druce)
- Sterculia fiorniana (J.F.Gmel.)
- Firmiana platanifolia var. tomentosa ((Thunb.) Sa.Kurata)
- Firmiana chinensis (Medik. ex Steud.)
- Clompanus simplex ((L.) Kuntze)
- Caucanthus platanifolia ((L.) Raf.)
- Culhamia triloba (Raf.)
- Culhamia platanifolia (Steud.)
- Culhamia simplex ((L.) Nakai)
- Culhamia hadiensis (J.F.Gmel.)
- Clompanus pyriformis (Kuntze)
Distribution
- Bangladesh (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Hainan (native)
- Japan (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jun 22, 2021 by fulai fulai (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jun 29, 2018 by yosefgreen (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 28, 2021 by lu mar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 12, 2019 by Fernando Ruiz (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 28, 2017 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 9, 2020 by N Z Víctor (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 23, 2022 by sergi (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Sep 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 28, 2019 by cimadevilla susy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 28, 2017 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Dec 18, 2021 by Blanca Antonio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 17, 2021 by Blanca Antonio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2017 by Jesús Carmona (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 10, 2019 by García Felipe (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2018 by alonso (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jun 18, 2022 by HugoFara (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2022 by HugoFara (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 19, 2021 by jake lasi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 29, 2020 by keano visser (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Oct 22, 2021 by aparicio Floren (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Francesc Riudavets (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by isabelle scala (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2022 by HugoFara (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152111)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:823357-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Firmiana simplex (L.) W.Wight)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Tree, Shrub