Pyrenaria microcarpa

Pyrenaria microcarpa is an evergreen plant in the family Theaceae. It is native from southern mainland China, east to Taiwan, and south to Myanmar and Vietnam.

Description

Pyrenaria microcarpa is a shrub or medium-sized tree reaching a height of approximately. Its leaves are leathery, elliptic, obovate or oblong-lanceolate, with a serrate margin, and are about long. Its flowers are axillary, solitary, with five white or pale yellow petals, about across. Its fruits are more-or-less ovoid or globose capsules about long, with three chestnut brown seeds in each of the three locules. The flowering period extends from April through July, while the fruits ripe from August up to November.

Varieties

, Plants of the World Online accepted two varieties:

Pyrenaria microcarpa var. microcarpa – throughout the range of the species
Pyrenaria microcarpa var. ovalifolia T.L.Ming & S.X.Yang – Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan, north Taiwan

Distribution and habitat

Pyrenaria microcarpa is native to south-central and southeast China, Hainan, Myanmar, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It grows in mountain forests or along streams, at an elevation of about above sea level.