Queen Crape Myrtle, Queen Lagerstroemia, Queen Crape-myrtle
Scientific Name : Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.
Common Name : Queen Crape Myrtle, Queen Lagerstroemia, Queen Crape-myrtle
Chinese Name : 大花紫薇, 大葉紫薇, 洋紫薇, 百日紅
Family : LYTHRACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
Anecdotes on plants
| Origins |
Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines. |
| Applications |
The flowers of Queen Crape Myrtle are bright and eye-catching, forming splendid bouquets in full blossom, contributing to its high aesthetic value. In midsummer, blooming of the Queen Crape Myrtle colours the environment. Its leaves turn dark red before defoliation in winter, which can be appreciated as an alternative of “autumn foliage”. Moreover, the erect trunk of Queen Crape Myrtle occupies a relatively small space, making it a popular species of street tree and landscaping.
The species is also a timber source, which can be processed into furniture, building materials and rigs. Its texture is hard and durable to decay, while the tone of colour is reddish with a shiny appearance. The economic value of its timber is comparable to teak (Tectona grandis L.f.).
Additionally, the Queen Crape Myrtle can be used for medicinal purposes. Applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine, its leaves and roots can restrain wound and detoxicate. |
Traits for identification
| Growing habit |
Deciduous tree. |
| Height |
To 20 m. |
| Stems |
Bark of trunk grey, branchlets terete. |
| Leaves |
Large, oblong-elliptic to ovate-elliptic in shape, leathery in texture, lateral veins 9 to 17 pairs. Defoliates in winter, leaves turned orange-red to dark red before falling. |
| Flowers |
Magenta (purplish red), petals 6, suborbicular, margin crispate. Stamens in yellow numerous, up to 100 to 200 in each flower. Corolla actinomorphic (radial symmetric), similar to a badge. |
| Fruits |
Capsule greyish brown, globose, dehiscing into 6 valves when mature. |
| Seeds |
Numerous, small. |
| Flowering period |
May to July in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period |
October to November in Hong Kong. |
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=3429
Scientific names from other databases
― Plants of the World Online : Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.
Reference
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
- Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. 大花紫薇. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 24th March 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/3429/3429_S_E.pdf
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University & Hong Kong Baptist University Library. (2007). Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Medicinal Plant Images Database. Retrieved 24th March 2020, from: http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id=D01014
- Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium. (2020). Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. 大花紫薇. Pro-Factsheet. Taxonomical Archive System. Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Native Plant Resources and Database in Hong Kong. Retrieved 24th March 2020, from: https://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet-pro/lagerstroemia-speciosa/
- 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）。〈大花紫薇Lagerstroemia speciosa (Linn.) Pers.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年3月24日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Lagerstroemia%20speciosa?t=z
- 中國科學院華南植物園。（1995）。《廣東植物誌》（第3卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-1272-9。
- 深圳市人民政府城市管理辦公室、深圳市仙湖植物園、深圳市城市管理科學研究所。（1998）。《深圳園林植物》。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-2149-3。
Tree Labels with QR Codes
