Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) is native to Africa. Despite its name, the Cape chestnut tree is not closely related to chestnuts but to citrus trees. It is best known for its large, showy spikes of pink to mauve flowers that cover the entire crown of the tree during summer. In the Los Angeles Arboretum I saw this tall tree full of flowers from a distance. I thought it was a Fringe tree. But when I looked closely, I found that its flowers were more complex and beautiful than the Fringe tree. If I didn’t care about letting my husband wait for me to take pictures too long, I would like to sit under the tree to drink ice tea and enjoy the shade and the flowers. Cape chestnut oil, obtained from the seeds, is a popular oil in African skin care. The bark is used as an ingredient of skin ointments and is sold at traditional medicine markets.
好望角美樹原產於非洲。儘管它的名字，它與栗子並沒有密切關係，而是與柑橘樹密切相關。以其在夏季覆蓋整個樹冠的大而艷麗的粉紅色至淡紫色花朵而聞名。在洛杉磯的植物園中，老遠就看到這棵高大的樹，長滿了花朵，原先以為是流蘇，但是仔細觀看，才發現它的花比流蘇一絲絲的花瓣更複雜，很美。要不是我怕我先生等我照相太久，我會想飲著涼茶，坐在樹下乘涼賞花。從種子中提取的油，是非洲皮膚護理中流行的油。樹皮用作皮膚藥膏的成分，在傳統醫藥市場出售。
Notes 筆記
- Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) is cultivated widely for its prolific flower display. It is native to south eastern Africa.
- The name of the genus comes from the Greek words ‘kalos’, meaning “beautiful” and ‘dendron’ meaning “tree”. The specific epithet means “from the Cape” as it was first described by Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) who first saw it in flower in South Africa. The tree was named “Cape Chestnut” by William Burchell because of the resemblance of the flowers and fruit to the horse chestnut though the two are not closely related.
- At the coast this tree is often evergreen, but inland it is deciduous with rich yellow autumn colors. In a forest environment, this tree can reach heights of up to 20 m. When in bloom, the whole canopy turns pink. It is a magnificent sight. The flowers are large and striking, faintly sweet-scented and carried in conspicuous terminal panicles during early summer. Close up, each delicate flower has five long narrow pale pink petals, alternating with five petal-like staminodes (sterile stamens), also pale pink but conspicuously dotted with purplish to maroon glands. The calyx is star-shaped and persists after the flower has dropped off.
- Cape chestnut oil, obtained from the seeds, otherwise known as Yangu oil, is a popular oil in African skin care.
- The timber is white or light yellow, fairly hard but bends well and is easily worked. It is used for tent bows, wagon-making, yokes, planking, shovel handles, and furniture.
- The bark is used as an ingredient of skin ointments and is sold at traditional medicine markets.
- 好望角美樹因其多產的花卉而被廣泛種植。 它原產於非洲東南部。
- 該屬的名稱來自希臘語“kalos”，意為“美麗”，“dendron”意為“樹”。種小名意為“來自開普敦”，因為卡爾·彼得·桑伯格（Carl Peter Thunberg，1743-1828 年）首次在南非看到它的花朵。這棵樹被威廉·伯切爾命名為“Cape Chestnut”，因為它們的花朵和果實與七葉樹相似，雖然兩者並沒有密切的關係。
- 在海岸，這棵樹通常是常綠的，但在內陸，它是落葉的，帶有濃郁的黃色秋天色彩。在森林中，這棵樹的高度可達 20公尺。開花時，整個樹冠變成粉紅色，是一個壯麗的景象。花大而引人注目，帶有淡淡的甜味，在初夏時有顯眼的頂生圓錐花序。近看，每朵嬌嫩的花朵都有五個狹長的淡粉色花瓣，與五個花瓣狀的退化雄蕊（不育雄蕊）交替，同樣是淡粉色，但明顯點綴著紫色至栗色的腺體。花萼呈星形，在花朵脫落後仍然存在。
- 從種子中提取的好望角美樹油，也稱為巖谷油，是非洲皮膚護理中流行的油。
- 木材為白色或淺黃色，相當堅硬，但彎曲性好，易於加工。它用於帳篷弓、馬車製造、軛、木板、鏟柄和家具。
- 樹皮用作皮膚藥膏的成分，在傳統醫藥市場出售。
References 參考資料
- PlantZAfrica: Calodendrum capense (L.f.) Thunb.
- Wikipedia: Calodendrum capense
Plants Posts 植物的帖子