Golden Rain Tree, Chinese Flame Tree, Pride of China

Scientific Name : Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch.
Common Name : Golden Rain Tree, Chinese Flame Tree, Pride of China
Chinese Name : 複羽葉欒樹, 國慶花
Family : SAPINDACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins	Provinces across South and Southwest China.
Ecology	It can be found in open woodlands at altitudes between 400 m and 2500 m, preferring a humid and warm climate.
Applications	The Golden Rain Tree is a suitable species for street trees and ornamentals. It is strongly adaptive, drought-and-cold tolerant, and fast growing. It shows a high aesthetic value when “changes its clothes” across the four seasons. The species is gloriously golden during its flowering period in autumn and turns red when fruiting in winter, where afterwards the fruit colour fades and turns pink, eventually becoming brown at maturity. The Golden Rain Tree is a colourful and gorgeous plant.
Meanings of names	As it is a species under genus Koelreuteria and its leaves are bipinnately compound, it is named “Bipinnate Koelreuteria (複羽葉欒樹)” in Chinese. Since its flowering period lies throughout the National Day of the People's Republic of China, as if it is celebrating with its golden appearance, the species is also known as “National Day Flower (國慶花)” in Chinese. The English name “Golden Rain Tree” describes the showering of golden flowers which blossom and fall off.

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=2869

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Koelreuteria bipinnata Franchet
― Plants of the World Online : Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch.

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). Koelreuteria bipinnata Franchet. 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=200013198
• Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch. 複羽葉欒樹. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 25^th May 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/2869/2869_S_E.pdf
• 中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2012）。《深圳植物誌》（第3卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-6828-3。
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈複羽葉欒樹 Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Koelreuteria%20bipinnata?t=z
• 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈欒屬 Koelreuteria Laxm.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年5月25日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Koelreuteria?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。
• 香港園藝學會。（2005）。《樹影花蹤—九龍公園樹木研習徑》。香港 : 天地圖書有限公司。國際標準書號 : 978988211147-5。
• 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。