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Hainan Elaeocarpus

Scientific Name : Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv.
Common Name : Hainan Elaeocarpus
Chinese Name : 水石榕
Family : ELAEOCARPACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

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Origins	Guangdong, Hainan, southern Guangxi and southeast Yunnan. Also distributed in Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Ecology	The natural habitat of the Hainan Elaeocarpus consist of riverbanks. It prefers warm and moist environments, but is intolerant to water-logging. It does not grow well in arid areas.
Applications	This species is a popular horticultural plant that is commonly used in garden landscaping. It is especially planted near water bodies, which closely matches the growth requirements of the species. The Hainan Elaeocarpus has an elegant growth form, with clear layering in the tree crown. Its flowers like little parachutes hanging on the branches. The white flowers and green leaves are nicely contrasting to each other. Its leaves turn scarlet before defoliating, creating the fascinating scenery of “a red spot in the midst of thick foliage”. The reflections from water further enhance the beauty of the scenery. Therefore, it is an excellent landscaping plant. A study revealed that the tree has a certain level of adaptability and resilience to polluted water, as well as the ability to remove some pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous from water bodies. It can also assist the restoration of aquatic ecosystems and relieve eutrophication problems in garden ponds.

Traits for identification

Growing habit	Evergreen tree.
Height	To 5 m.
Stems	Bark of trunk greyish brown. Canopy wide.
Leaves	Clustered at twig apices. Narrowly oblanceolate, leathery, apex acuminate, base cuneate and decurrent, margin serrate.
Flowers	White. Inflorescences axillary, with 2 to 6 flowers each. Petals 5, obovate, apex laciniate into 30 to 46 segments. Calyx 5, lanceolate. Bracts leaf-like.
Fruits	Drupe fusiform, tapering at both ends.
Flowering period	June to July in Hong Kong.
Fruiting period	July to September in Hong Kong.

Overview of <em>Elaeocarpus hainanensis</em> Oliv. Canopy wide.

<em>Elaeocarpus hainanensis</em> Oliv. always being planted next to water bodies.

Trunk of <em>Elaeocarpus hainanensis</em> Oliv.

Bark of trunk greyish brown.

Clustered at twig apices. Narrowly oblanceolate, margin serrate.

Its leaves turn scarlet before defoliating, creating a fascinating scenery of “a red spot in the midst of thick foliage”.

White, petals 5, obovate, apex laciniate into 30 to 46 segments. Calyx 5, lanceolate.

Bracts leaf-like.

Developing drupe, fusiform, tapering at both ends.

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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=7759

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliver
― Plants of the World Online : Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv.

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.
eFloras. (2008). Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliver. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 25^th May 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200013530
Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv. 水石榕. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 25^th May 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/7759/7759_S_E.pdf
Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium. (2020). Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv. 水石榕. Pro-Factsheet. Taxonomical Archive System. Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Native Plant Resources and Database in Hong Kong. Retrieved 25^th May 2020, from: http://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet-pro/elaeocarpus-hainanensis/
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）。〈水石榕 Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliver〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Elaeocarpus%20hainanensis?t=z
中國科學院華南植物園。（1987）。《廣東植物誌》（第1卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-5079-6。
吳小英、范永年、廖穎殷。(2010)。〈佛山市一環快速干線互通立交綠化景觀分析〉。《中國園林》，2，86-88。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://big5.oversea.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?QueryID=1&CurRec=2&DbCode=CJFD&dbname=CJFD2010&filename=ZGYL201002025&uid=WEEvREcwSlJHSldRa1Fhb09pSnNwRnNOOTJSdHE4bm9XTGtkR2tHODB6QT0=$9A4hF_YAuvQ5obgVAqNKPCYcEjKensW4IQMovwHtwkF4VYPoHbKxJw!!
許銘宇、劉雯、余土元、盧藝菲、陳森、陳平。(2018)。〈水生木本植物凈水效應研究〉。《北方園藝》，5，123-129。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://big5.oversea.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?QueryID=1&CurRec=1&DbCode=CJFD&dbname=CJFDLAST2018&filename=BFYY201805024&uid=WEEvREcwSlJHSldRa1Fhb09pSnNwRnNOOTJSdHE4bm9XTGtkR2tHODB6QT0=$9A4hF_YAuvQ5obgVAqNKPCYcEjKensW4IQMovwHtwkF4VYPoHbKxJw!!
陳定如。(2007)。〈尖葉杜英與水石榕〉。《廣東園林》，29 (2)，80。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://d.g.wanfangdata.com.hk/Periodical_gdyl200702023.aspx
陳虎彪、楊永平。（2019）。《香港行山植物探賞徑（增訂版）》。第一版 : 2019年5月。香港 : 萬里機構。國際標準書號 : 978-962-14-7037-9。
漁農自然護理署香港植物標本室、中國科學院華南植物園。（2015）。《香港植物誌》（第1卷）。香港 : 漁農自然護理署。國際標準書號 : 978-988-12021-9-2。