Parrotia
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| Parrotia persica (DC.) C.A.Mey. |
Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood) is a deciduous tree in the family Hamamelidaceae, the sole species in the genus Parrotia but closely related to the genus Hamamelis (Witch-hazels). It is native to northern Iran, where it is endemic in the Alborz mountains.
It grows to 15 m tall and 8-15 m broad, with a trunk up to 80 cm diameter. The bark is smooth, pinkish-brown flaking/peeling to leave cinnamon, pink, green, and pale yellow patches in a similar manner to plane trees. The leaves are alternate, ovoid, often slightly lop-sided, 6-15 cm long and 4-10 cm across, with a wavy margin; they are glossy green, turning a rich purple to brilliant red in autumn colours.
The flowers are somewhat similar to Witch-hazel flowers but dark red; they are likewise produced in late winter on bare stems, but differ in having only four rounded sepals with no petals; the stamens are however fairly conspicuous, forming a dense red cluster 3-4 mm across. The fruit is a two-parted capsule containing two seeds, one in each half.
[edit] Cultivation
It is cultivated as an ornamental tree for its stunning autumn colour and the smooth, patterned bark. Several cultivars have been selected for garden planting:
- 'Horizontalis': semi-weeping, wide-spreading horizontal branching pattern.
- 'Pendula' (Kew Form): Compact, weeping, quite graceful
- 'Select': Young leaves have purple margins, otherwise same as species
- 'Vanessa': Upright, columnar habit
