View source for Dichroa

{{Inc|
Dichroa (Greek, dis, two, and chros, color). Syn. Adamia. Saxifragaceae. Rare greenhouse shrub in habit resembling a Hydrangea, with violet-blue fls. in a pyramidal panicle a foot across, and handsome blue berries. Lvs. persistent, opposite, stalked, narrow, tapering both ways, serrate: panicles terminal, many- fld.; fls. blue, lilac, or violet; petals 5 or 6, valvate; styles 3-5, club-shaped: seeds numerous, small. The genus has only 1 species, in the Himalayas, Malaya, and China. It is sometimes considered to be bitypic, but the other species, D. pubescens, Miq., is considered by Koorders (Exkursionoflora von Java) to be probably a true Hydrangea.
}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Dichroa''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Cornales]]
| familia = [[Hydrangeaceae]]
| genus = '''''Dichroa'''''
| genus_authority = [[João de Loureiro|Lour.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''''Dichroa''''' is a genus of 12 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Hydrangeaceae]], native to eastern and southeastern [[Asia]]. They are [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s growing to 1-3 m tall, with their [[leaf|leaves]] arranged in opposite pairs. The [[flower]]s are produced in a broad [[inflorescence]] similar to that of the related genus ''[[Hydrangea]]''. The [[fruit]] is a glossy metallic purple-blue [[berry]].

;Selected species
*''[[Dichroa daimingshanensis]]'' Y.C.Wu
*''[[Dichroa febrifuga]]'' Lour.
*''[[Dichroa hirsuta]]'' Gagnep.
*''[[Dichroa mollissima]]'' Merrill
*''[[Dichroa yaoshanensis]]'' Y.C.Wu
*''[[Dichroa yunnanensis]]'' S.M.Hwang

===Uses===
''Dichroa febrifuga'' (Chinese: [[wikt:常|常]][[wikt:山|山]]; pinyin: chángshān) is an important [[herb]] in [[traditional Chinese medicine]], where it is considered one of the [[Chinese herbology#50 fundamental herbs|50 fundamental herbs]].

==References==
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=109931 Flora of China: ''Dichroa'']
*[http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2005/12/dichroa_febrifuga.php UBC Botany Photos: ''Dichroa febrifuga'']
*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Dichroa+febrifuga Plants for a Future: ''Dichroa febrifuga'']