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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Crape myrtle
| image = Lagerstroemia indica Blanco1.207.png
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Lagerstroemia indica''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Lythraceae]]
| genus = '''''Lagerstroemia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Lagerstroemia''''' ('''crepe myrtle''' or '''crape myrtle''') is a genus of about 50 species of [[deciduous]] and [[evergreen]] [[tree]]s or large [[shrub]]s native to eastern [[Asia]] and [[Australia]] in the ''[[Lythraceae]]'' family.
Grown mainly for their [[flower]]s, ''Lagerstroemia'' have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with [[bark]] that sheds each year, giving it a mottled appearance. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, simple, with entire margins, and vary from 5-20 [[centimetre|cm]] (2-8 [[inch|in]]). The leaves provide autumn colour.
Flowers are borne in summer in [[panicle]]s of crinkled flowers with a crepe-like texture. Colours vary in shades of pink, mauve and white. The [[fruit]] is a capsule, green at first, then ripening to black. It opens along six or seven lines, producing teeth much like those of the calyx, and releases numerous small winged seeds.
The [[lumber|timber]] of some species has been used to manufacture bridges, furniture and railway sleepers.
''Lagerstroemia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Endoclita]] malabaricus''.
;Selected species
{|
|
*''[[Lagerstroemia archeriana]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia balansae]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia caudata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia cristata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia excelsa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia floribunda]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia fordii]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia glabra]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia guilinensis]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia indica]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia intermedia]]''
|
*''[[Lagerstroemia limii]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia micrantha]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia siamica]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia speciosa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia stenopetala]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia subcostata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia subsessilifolia]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia suprareticulata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia tomentosa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia venusta]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia villosa]]''
|}
[[Image:Crapemyrtlemap2.PNG|thumb|right|350px|Adaptable range for the Crape Myrtle in the [[United States]]]]
[[Image:Crepe Myrtle.jpg|thumb|right|350px|<center>A 12ft (4m) Crape Myrtle in northern [[Maryland]].</center>]]
The '''Common Crape-myrtle''' ''Lagerstroemia indica'', from [[China]] and [[Korea]], was introduced to the [[United States]] by [[France|French]] [[botanist]] [[Andre Michaux]] ''ca.'' 1790 to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], where it is today a very common ornamental shrub raised and cultivated in South Central [[United States]], and is growing in popularity.
The '''Giant Crape-myrtle''' ''Lagerstroemia speciosa'', from tropical [[India]], is a tree which is established only in the warmest areas of the US, such as [[Alabama]], [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Louisiana]], [[Oklahoma]], [[New Mexico]], [[Texas]], and surrounding states.
Both species are becoming more prevalent in the home owners landscape designs as well as commercial industries for businesses and municipalities along roadways, highways and byways. They both have become so common it is sometimes almost impossible to tell them apart without laboratory testing.
The genus is named after the [[Sweden|Swedish]] merchant Magnus von Lagerström, who supplied [[Carolus Linnaeus]] with plants he collected.
==References==
*{{APNI | name = Lagerstroemia | id = 36201}}
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=117489 Flora of China: ''Lagerstroemia'' species list]
*Flora, The Gardeners' Bible, ABC Publishing, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, 2006
<gallery>
Image:Lagerstroemia indica3.jpg|''L. indica''
Image:Crapeblossom 1211.JPG|Distinctive panicles of crepe textured, crinkled flowers typical ot the genus
Image:Crepe-myrtle-pink.jpg|[[Macro photography|Close-up]] of flowers
Image:Lagerstroemia indica2.jpg|Close-up of bark (''L. indica'')
Image:Lagerstroemia indica4.jpg|Close-up of ripened fruit (''L. indica'')
Image:Crepe Myrtle (Maryland).jpg|In full bloom (late-July in [[Maryland]])
</gallery>
[[Category:Lythraceae]]
[[Category:Myrtales of Australia]]
{{commons|Lagerstroemia indica}}
| color = lightgreen
| name = Crape myrtle
| image = Lagerstroemia indica Blanco1.207.png
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Lagerstroemia indica''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Lythraceae]]
| genus = '''''Lagerstroemia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Lagerstroemia''''' ('''crepe myrtle''' or '''crape myrtle''') is a genus of about 50 species of [[deciduous]] and [[evergreen]] [[tree]]s or large [[shrub]]s native to eastern [[Asia]] and [[Australia]] in the ''[[Lythraceae]]'' family.
Grown mainly for their [[flower]]s, ''Lagerstroemia'' have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with [[bark]] that sheds each year, giving it a mottled appearance. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, simple, with entire margins, and vary from 5-20 [[centimetre|cm]] (2-8 [[inch|in]]). The leaves provide autumn colour.
Flowers are borne in summer in [[panicle]]s of crinkled flowers with a crepe-like texture. Colours vary in shades of pink, mauve and white. The [[fruit]] is a capsule, green at first, then ripening to black. It opens along six or seven lines, producing teeth much like those of the calyx, and releases numerous small winged seeds.
The [[lumber|timber]] of some species has been used to manufacture bridges, furniture and railway sleepers.
''Lagerstroemia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Endoclita]] malabaricus''.
;Selected species
{|
|
*''[[Lagerstroemia archeriana]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia balansae]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia caudata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia cristata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia excelsa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia floribunda]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia fordii]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia glabra]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia guilinensis]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia indica]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia intermedia]]''
|
*''[[Lagerstroemia limii]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia micrantha]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia siamica]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia speciosa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia stenopetala]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia subcostata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia subsessilifolia]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia suprareticulata]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia tomentosa]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia venusta]]''
*''[[Lagerstroemia villosa]]''
|}
[[Image:Crapemyrtlemap2.PNG|thumb|right|350px|Adaptable range for the Crape Myrtle in the [[United States]]]]
[[Image:Crepe Myrtle.jpg|thumb|right|350px|<center>A 12ft (4m) Crape Myrtle in northern [[Maryland]].</center>]]
The '''Common Crape-myrtle''' ''Lagerstroemia indica'', from [[China]] and [[Korea]], was introduced to the [[United States]] by [[France|French]] [[botanist]] [[Andre Michaux]] ''ca.'' 1790 to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], where it is today a very common ornamental shrub raised and cultivated in South Central [[United States]], and is growing in popularity.
The '''Giant Crape-myrtle''' ''Lagerstroemia speciosa'', from tropical [[India]], is a tree which is established only in the warmest areas of the US, such as [[Alabama]], [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Louisiana]], [[Oklahoma]], [[New Mexico]], [[Texas]], and surrounding states.
Both species are becoming more prevalent in the home owners landscape designs as well as commercial industries for businesses and municipalities along roadways, highways and byways. They both have become so common it is sometimes almost impossible to tell them apart without laboratory testing.
The genus is named after the [[Sweden|Swedish]] merchant Magnus von Lagerström, who supplied [[Carolus Linnaeus]] with plants he collected.
==References==
*{{APNI | name = Lagerstroemia | id = 36201}}
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=117489 Flora of China: ''Lagerstroemia'' species list]
*Flora, The Gardeners' Bible, ABC Publishing, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, 2006
<gallery>
Image:Lagerstroemia indica3.jpg|''L. indica''
Image:Crapeblossom 1211.JPG|Distinctive panicles of crepe textured, crinkled flowers typical ot the genus
Image:Crepe-myrtle-pink.jpg|[[Macro photography|Close-up]] of flowers
Image:Lagerstroemia indica2.jpg|Close-up of bark (''L. indica'')
Image:Lagerstroemia indica4.jpg|Close-up of ripened fruit (''L. indica'')
Image:Crepe Myrtle (Maryland).jpg|In full bloom (late-July in [[Maryland]])
</gallery>
[[Category:Lythraceae]]
[[Category:Myrtales of Australia]]
{{commons|Lagerstroemia indica}}
