2,135 bytes added
, 16:51, 13 October 2007
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Weigela''
| image = Weigela florida0.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Weigela florida''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Dipsacales]]
| familia = [[Caprifoliaceae]]
| genus = '''''Weigela'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 10 species; see text
}}
'''''Weigela''''' is a small genus of about 12 species of [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s in the family [[Caprifoliaceae]], growing to 1-5 m tall. All are natives of eastern [[Asia]].
The [[leaf|leaves]] are 5-15 cm long, ovate-oblong with an acuminate tip, and with a serrated margin. The [[flower]]s are 2-4 cm long, with a five-lobed white, pink, or red (rarely yellow) [[corolla]], produced in small [[corymb]]s of several together in early summer. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule containing numerous small winged [[seed]]s.
''Weigela'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Brown-tail]].
The genus is named after the German scientist [[Christian Ehrenfried Weigel]].
The British ''Weigela'' national collection is held at [[Sheffield Botanical Gardens]]; along with the national collection of the closely related ''[[Diervilla]]'' genus.[http://www.sbg.org.uk/weigela.asp]
;Species:
*''[[Weigela coraeensis]]''
*''[[Weigela decora]]''
*''[[Weigela floribunda]]''
*''[[Weigela florida]]''
*''[[Weigela hortensis]]''
*''[[Weigela japonica]]''
*''[[Weigela maximowiczii]]''
*''[[Weigela middendorfiana]]''
*''[[Weigela praecox]]''
*''[[Weigela x wagnerii]]''
*''[[Weigela subsessilis]]''
===Cultivation===
Several of the species are very popular [[ornamental plant|ornamental shrubs]] in [[garden]]s, although species have been mostly superseded by hybrids (crosses between ''W.florida'' and other Asiatic species).
==External links==
*[http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/art_b/hakoneutugi_1.htm ''Weigela coraeensis''] - Images
*[http://www.sbg.org.uk/weigela.asp British national collection at Sheffield Botanical Gardens]
{{Dipsacales-stub}}
[[Category:Caprifoliaceae]]