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{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Forsythia
| image = Forsythia close-up 2 cropped.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Forsythia x intermedia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Oleaceae]]
| genus = '''''Forsythia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''Forsythia''' is both the common name and botanical name of a [[plant]] genus belonging to the [[Oleaceae]] (Olive family). It is named after [[William Forsyth]], and comprises six species of [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s to 3-6 m tall, mostly native to [[Asia]], but one native to southeastern [[Europe]].
The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, usually simple but sometimes trifoliate with a basal pair of small leaflets, and range from 4-12 cm long; the margin is serrated. The [[flower]]s are produced in the early spring before the leaves, bright yellow with four petals. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule, containing several winged [[seed]]s.
Forsythias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Brown-tail]] and [[Gothic (moth)|The Gothic]].
The species are:
*''[[Forsythia europaea]]'', from the [[Balkans]]
*''[[Forsythia giraldiana]]'', from northwest [[China]]
*''[[Forsythia japonica]]'' from [[Japan]]
*''[[Forsythia ovata]]'', from [[Korea]]
*''[[Forsythia suspensa]]'', from [[China]]
*''[[Forsythia viridissima]]'', from [[China]]
The [[hybrid]]s ''Forsythia × intermedia'' (''F. suspensa'' × ''F. viridissima'') and ''Forsythia × variabilis'' (''F. ovata'' × ''F. suspensa'') have been produced in cultivation.
===Cultivation and uses===
Forsythias are popular early spring flowering shrubs in [[garden]]s and [[park]]s. Two are commonly cultivated for ornament, ''Forsythia × intermedia'' and ''Forsythia suspensa''. They are both spring flowering shrubs, with yellow flowers. They are grown and prized for being tough, reliable garden plants. ''Forsythia × intermedia'' is the more commonly grown, is smaller, has an upright habit, and produces strongly coloured flowers. ''Forsythia suspensa'' is a large to very large shrub, can be grown as a weeping shrub on banks, and has paler flowers. Many named garden [[cultivar]]s can also be found.
Commercial [[plant propagation|propagation]] is usually by [[cuttings]], taken from green wood after flowering in late spring to early summer; alternatively, cuttings may be taken between November and February.
''F. suspensa'' (Chinese: [[wikt:连|连]][[wikt:翘|翘]]; pinyin: liánqiào) is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs in [[Chinese herbology]]. Forsythia sticks are used to bow a Korean string instrument called ''[[ajaeng]]''.
Forsythia sometimes planted in the [[median strip]]s of divided highways to block headlamp glare and to beautify the highways while in bloom. The plant requires little attention and can grow to sizable proportions capable of stopping small vehicles which run off the road.
===Gallery===
<gallery>
Image:Tree dsc00856.jpg|A Forsythia shrub
Image:Forsythia.x.intermedia03.jpg|''Forsythia × intermedia'' flowers and young leaves
Image:forsythia001.jpg|Forsythia flowers
Image:ForsythiaFlower.png|A Forsythia flower
Image:Forsythia 50years.jpg|A 50-year old Forsythia shrub in [[Maryland]]<!--attribution required: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/image:Forsythia 50years.jpg-->
</gallery>
==External links==
{{Commons|Forsythia}}
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/propagation_takesummercuttings.shtml BBC - summer cuttings]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/3306.shtml BBC - Forsythia page]
*[http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/wisley/archive/wisleypom03mar.asp Royal Horticultural Society]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/fovi.htm ''Forsythia viridissima'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://landscaping.about.com/cs/shrubsbushes/p/forsythia.htm Forsythia Shrubs]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Oleaceae]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Forsythia
| image = Forsythia close-up 2 cropped.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Forsythia x intermedia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Oleaceae]]
| genus = '''''Forsythia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Martin Vahl|Vahl]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''Forsythia''' is both the common name and botanical name of a [[plant]] genus belonging to the [[Oleaceae]] (Olive family). It is named after [[William Forsyth]], and comprises six species of [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s to 3-6 m tall, mostly native to [[Asia]], but one native to southeastern [[Europe]].
The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, usually simple but sometimes trifoliate with a basal pair of small leaflets, and range from 4-12 cm long; the margin is serrated. The [[flower]]s are produced in the early spring before the leaves, bright yellow with four petals. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule, containing several winged [[seed]]s.
Forsythias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Brown-tail]] and [[Gothic (moth)|The Gothic]].
The species are:
*''[[Forsythia europaea]]'', from the [[Balkans]]
*''[[Forsythia giraldiana]]'', from northwest [[China]]
*''[[Forsythia japonica]]'' from [[Japan]]
*''[[Forsythia ovata]]'', from [[Korea]]
*''[[Forsythia suspensa]]'', from [[China]]
*''[[Forsythia viridissima]]'', from [[China]]
The [[hybrid]]s ''Forsythia × intermedia'' (''F. suspensa'' × ''F. viridissima'') and ''Forsythia × variabilis'' (''F. ovata'' × ''F. suspensa'') have been produced in cultivation.
===Cultivation and uses===
Forsythias are popular early spring flowering shrubs in [[garden]]s and [[park]]s. Two are commonly cultivated for ornament, ''Forsythia × intermedia'' and ''Forsythia suspensa''. They are both spring flowering shrubs, with yellow flowers. They are grown and prized for being tough, reliable garden plants. ''Forsythia × intermedia'' is the more commonly grown, is smaller, has an upright habit, and produces strongly coloured flowers. ''Forsythia suspensa'' is a large to very large shrub, can be grown as a weeping shrub on banks, and has paler flowers. Many named garden [[cultivar]]s can also be found.
Commercial [[plant propagation|propagation]] is usually by [[cuttings]], taken from green wood after flowering in late spring to early summer; alternatively, cuttings may be taken between November and February.
''F. suspensa'' (Chinese: [[wikt:连|连]][[wikt:翘|翘]]; pinyin: liánqiào) is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs in [[Chinese herbology]]. Forsythia sticks are used to bow a Korean string instrument called ''[[ajaeng]]''.
Forsythia sometimes planted in the [[median strip]]s of divided highways to block headlamp glare and to beautify the highways while in bloom. The plant requires little attention and can grow to sizable proportions capable of stopping small vehicles which run off the road.
===Gallery===
<gallery>
Image:Tree dsc00856.jpg|A Forsythia shrub
Image:Forsythia.x.intermedia03.jpg|''Forsythia × intermedia'' flowers and young leaves
Image:forsythia001.jpg|Forsythia flowers
Image:ForsythiaFlower.png|A Forsythia flower
Image:Forsythia 50years.jpg|A 50-year old Forsythia shrub in [[Maryland]]<!--attribution required: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/image:Forsythia 50years.jpg-->
</gallery>
==External links==
{{Commons|Forsythia}}
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/propagation_takesummercuttings.shtml BBC - summer cuttings]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/3306.shtml BBC - Forsythia page]
*[http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/wisley/archive/wisleypom03mar.asp Royal Horticultural Society]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/fovi.htm ''Forsythia viridissima'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://landscaping.about.com/cs/shrubsbushes/p/forsythia.htm Forsythia Shrubs]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Oleaceae]]
