Scientific Name : Michelia x alba DC.
Common Name : White Jade Orchid Tree, White Champak
Chinese Name : 白蘭, 白蘭花, 白玉蘭
Family : MAGNOLIACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | Java, Indonesia. Widely cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Fujian provinces. Planted as pot plants in cold regions; requires indoor environment over the winter. |
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| Applications | Whenever the White Jade Orchid Tree is mentioned, people will recall its unique and strong fragrance, as well as its packaged flowers sold by the elderlies at low prices on the streets. The flowers are usually collected by farmers at night, otherwise its scent disperse and fade after the blossoming of flower bud. The White Jade Orchid Tree has a superior status in the perfume industry as its leaves and flowers can respectively be refined into leaf oil and flower extract, which are both quality ingredients for essential oils and perfume. In addition, its flowers can be applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which can promote qi-flowing, eliminate dampness and suppress coughs. |
| Mystery of its origin | The White Jade Orchid Tree is a hybrid. Since the species usually does not produce fruits, it is cultivated in large quantity by artificial propagation such as grafting and layering. Yet, its origin is questionable. The species is commonly treated as a hybrid of Michelia champaca L. and Magnolia montana (Blume) Figlar in academia. |
| Old and Valuable Trees | The white Jade Orchid Tree locate in Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens reaches 22 m for its crown spread, 32 m for its height and 1.2 m for its Diameter at Breast Height. The individual is listed under the Register of Old and Valuable Trees (LCSD CW/43, https://ovt.greening.gov.hk/detail.aspx?id=471&m=14). |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
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| Height | To 17 m. |
| Stems | Bark of trunk grey. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of main trunk to 30 cm. Branches widely spreading, crown broadly umbelliform. With oil cells, branches and leaves fragrant when rubbed. |
| Leaves | Long-elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, thinly leathery, apex long acuminate to caudate-acuminate, base cuneate. Reticulate veins conspicuous on both surfaces of dried leaves. Stipule caducous, stipular scar on petiole shorter than the half length of petiole. |
| Flowers | Very fragrant. Tepals 10, white, lanceolate. Stamens and pistils many, distinct. Staminal connective in long-tip shape, exserted. Carpels spirally arranged on gynophore (stalk of pistil group). |
| Fruits | Usually not fruiting. Sparsely arranged aggregate follicles, bright red when mature. |
| Flowering period | April to September in Hong Kong. |
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=3433
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Michelia × alba Candolle
― Plants of the World Online : Magnolia × alba (DC.) Figlar