Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Cercis chinensis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Cercis chinensis is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 15 metres tall, though is often nearer 3 - 5 metres in cultivation. The bole of larger trees can be 90 - 120cm in diameter[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is cultivated for medicinal use in Korea[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ], and is widely grown as an ornamental. Cercis chinensis has a wide distribution range and the population is believed to be stable at present. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - central and southern China, Korea

HabitatWoodland and clearings; at elevations from 600 - 1,200 metres in W. Hupeh[ 109 Title Plantae Wilsonae. Vol 1 - 3 Publication Author Wilson. E. H. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher University Press; Cambridge. Year 1911 - 1917 ISBN Description Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. Commonly cultivated in China, it is rarely found growing in dense forests or limestone areas[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].