| Chionanthus retusus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specimen at Osaka-fu, Japan | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Genus: | Chionanthus |
| Species: | C. retusus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chionanthus retusus | |
Chionanthus retusus, theChinese fringetree,[2] is a flowering plant in the familyOleaceae. It is native to eastern Asia: eastern and central China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.[3]
It is adeciduousshrub or small to medium-sized tree growing to 20 metres (70 ft) in height, with thick, fissured bark. The leaves are 3–12 centimetres (1–5 in) long and 2–6.5 cm (0.8–2.6 in) broad, simple ovate to oblong-elliptic, with a hairy, 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) long petiole. The flowers are white, produced in panicles 3–12 cm (1–5 in) long. The fruit is a blue-black drupe 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 0.6–1 cm (0.2–0.4 in) in diameter.[3]
It is cultivated in Europe and North America as anornamental tree, valued for its feathery white flowerheads.[4]
InJapan'sAichi Prefecture nearInuyama there is a grove of seven matureChionanthus retusus renowned for their yearly white blooms. They were designated by the authorities as a natural monument since 1923.[5]
