Scientific Name : Polyspora axillaris (Roxb. ex Ker Gawl.) Sweet
Common Name : Hong Kong Gordonia
Chinese Name : 大頭茶, 南投大頭茶
Family : THEACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species
| Origin | Hong Kong Gordonia is distributed in Guangdong, Hainan and other southern provinces. It is common in Hong Kong country parks. |
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| Meaning of names | The specific epithet axillaris refers to its flowers growing from the leaf axils. |
| Vitality | Hong Kong Gordonia can mitigate aluminium pollution by accumulating the aluminium ions in its leaves and roots through the reaction with fluoride ions. |
| Reforestation of Hong Kong | In the early reforestation of Hong Kong, exotic species such as Acacia confusa (Taiwan Acacia) and Casuarina equisetifolia (Horsetail Tree) which are fast-growing and able to adapt and ameliorate barren environments, were the framework trees selected primarily for the promotion of rapid soil regeneration. Although they are competent to inject vigour into the lifeless land, they are regrettably unfriendly to the local biodiversity. To enrich the local biodiversity, the government launched the Country Parks Plantation Enrichment Programme in 2009 with a main aim of substituting the exotic trees with native species. Hong Kong Gordonia is one of the framework trees that are native to Hong Kong and show exceptional tolerance to dynamic environments; it also serves as a vital food source for large vespids in winter. Not only Hong Kong Gordonia, but other native trees such as Castanopsis fissa (Castanopsis) and Schima superba (Schima) are also picked for re-establishing the Hong Kong natural forest. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
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| Height | To 8 m. |
| Stem | Bark orange brown, smooth. Branchlets stout, densely pubescent. |
| Leaves | Simple leaves alternate. Blade leathery, adaxially dull and glabrous, abaxially pale green, with eminent midvein, oblong-ovate to oblanceolate, apex rounded or obtuse, base cuneate and decurrent, entire or remotely crenate on apex, lateral veins vague. |
| Flowers | Flowers solitary or in pairs, large. Petals 5, white. Stamens many, yellow. |
| Fruits | Capsules oblong or oblong-ovoid. Seeds compressed, winged. |
| Flowering period | September to October in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | November to December in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website: https://herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=7703
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China: Polyspora axillaris (Roxburgh ex Ker Gawler) Sweet
― Plants of the World Online: Polyspora axillaris (Roxb. ex Ker Gawl.) Sweet