Autumn Maple

Scientific Name : Bischofia javanica Blume
Common Name : Autumn Maple
Chinese Name : 秋楓, 茄苳
Family : EUPHORBIACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins	Provinces of South China. Also distributed in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Ecology	Autumn Maple is a native plant of Hong Kong, and also a common species in Fung Shui Wood. Their natural habitats are lowland forests and streamside. Young trees are tolerant to shade and demanding of moisture, and can grow well on sandy soil which is thick and fertile. Hence, the species is dominant in tropical and subtropical evergreen monsoon forest.
Applications	Apart from being used as street trees, the timber of Autumn Maple can be processed into construction materials and bridges. The bark can stain rattan baskets a red hue. Mature fruits are sweet and edible, while the flesh of fruits can be used for making wine. The seeds, which contain high oil content, can be refined into edible or industrial oil. Leaves can be cooked into a meal, like the Taiwan cuisine “Jia Dong Ji (茄苳雞, as Autumn Maple Chicken)”.
Old and Valuable Trees (OVTs)	Currently three Autumn Maple individuals are registered as OVTs in Hong Kong. Among them, 2 individuals grow in Lai Chi Wo of Sha Tau Kok, which have a Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of 1.9 m and 3.1 m respectively. The estimated age of the former one exceeds 100 years. For details, please visit the following website - https://ovt.greening.gov.hk/listtree.aspx?m=13&q=l&qt=3&species_id=142

Traits for identification

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=8147

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Bischofia javanica Blume
― Plants of the World Online : Bischofia javanica Blume

Reference

• Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
• Development Bureau. (2020). AFCD/LK/004, Old and Valuable Tree Information. Old and Valuable Trees in Hong Kong. Retrieved 22^th June 2020, from: https://ovt.greening.gov.hk/detail.aspx?id=3&m=13
• Development Bureau. (2020). AFCD/LK/010, Old and Valuable Tree Information. Old and Valuable Trees in Hong Kong. Retrieved 22^th June 2020, from: https://ovt.greening.gov.hk/detail.aspx?id=5&m=13
• Development Bureau. (2020). Species name: Bischofia javanica - 秋楓, Listing - By Species. Old and Valuable Trees in Hong Kong. Retrieved 22^th June 2020, from: https://ovt.greening.gov.hk/listtree.aspx?m=13&q=l&qt=3&species_id=142
• eFloras. (2008). Bischofia javanica Blume. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 26^th March 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200012543
• Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Bischofia javanica Blume 秋楓. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 26^th March 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/8147/8147_S_E.pdf
• 中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2010）。《深圳植物誌》（第2卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-5884-0。
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈秋楓Bischofia javangca Bl.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年3月26日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Bischofia%20javanica?t=z
• 中國科學院華南植物園。（2003）。《廣東植物誌》（第5卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-3322-X。
• 國立臺灣科技大學總務處。（2020）。〈茄苳，校園植物解說專區，事務組〉。《總務處》。於2020年12月14日擷取自 : https://www.general.ntust.edu.tw/files/13-1012-77029.php?Lang=zh-tw
• 黎存志、葉彥、葉國樑、魏遠娥、廖家業。（2008）。《香港野外樹木圖鑑》。香港 : 漁農自然護理署。國際標準書號 : 978-988-99377-3-7。
• 環境品質文教基金會。（2020）。〈茄苳，寄託情感 : 和藹可親，原生樹種，活動辦法/我要投票〉。《森情款款 由你樹說—台灣精神原生樹種票選》。於2020年12月14日擷取自 : http://www.eqpf.org/votefortrees/votepage.aspx?tId=10&mId=29