Dichroa

Read about Dichroa in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

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. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Dichroa
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Cornales Family: Hydrangeaceae Genus: Dichroa Lour.
Species
See text

Dichroa is a genus of 12 species of flowering plants in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia. They are deciduous shrubs growing to 1-3 m tall, with their leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers 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: 常山; pinyin: chángshān) is an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs.

References

• Flora of China: Dichroa
• UBC Botany Photos: Dichroa febrifuga
• Plants for a Future: Dichroa febrifuga