Dove tree

Dove tree (Davidia involucrata)

The Dove tree is a medium-sized deciduous tree, which is native to Southwestern China. It has a more or less pyramidal habit. Its foliage and habit are similar to those of the lime. It is a moderately fast-growing tree, living 50 to 150 years, and growing to about 8-15m in height, and 8-12m in spread, but in its native environment it can reach the 25m height.
Its bark is orange or brown, and scaly or furrowed. Strength of its branch is rated as medium.
The leaves are mostly 10-20 cm long and 7-15 cm wide and are broad-ovate to heart-shaped, with deep prominent veins, and toothed.
The flowers appear in May. The reddish flowers form a tight cluster about 1-2 cm across, each flower head with an asymmetrical pair of large (12-25 cm) pure white bracts at the base performing the function of petals. Its common names derive from its white bracts.
Fruits ripen in the late autumn. They are greenish at first, then russeted. The fruit surrounded by a husk about 4 cm long by 3 cm wide and contains a nut about 3 cm long, pendulous on a 10 cm stalk. The nut contains max. 10 seeds.
It is also known as handkerchief tree, or ghost tree.

Botanical Classification

The Dove tree is the only member of its genus, but there are two varieties differing in the colour of the buds and in their leaves. Davidia involucrata var. involucrata, which has the leaves thinly pubescent on the underside, and Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana, with glabrous leaves. It is unusual that the two varieties are classified in the same species, because of the two spices genetically so different, that they have differing chromosome numbers, ant they are unable to produce fertile hybrid offspring.
Their family classification is also incoherent. It is placed in the Nyssaceae or Cornaceae family or in its own family called Davidiaceae.

Origin

The Dove tree is native to Southwestern China, and it is thought to be a survivor of the Ice Ages. Genus “Davidia” was named in honour of Father Armand David (1826-1900), a French Franciscan missionary (who was the first westerner to describe the Giant Panda also). Father Armand David has discovered the Dove tree in 1869 on his second trip to southwestern China (1868 -1870).
The first seeds were sent to Europe by another missionary, Father Farges. He has collected the seeds for the arboretum of the great tree-collector Maurice de Vilmorin. Of the seeds he collected only one germinated, and it was the member of the Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana. The seed of another variant (var. involucrate), was sent to Europe by Ernest Wilson in 1901.

Cultivation

Being so exotic tree, the Dove tree is usually planted to gardens and parks.
It prefers the organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils (PH:6.5-7). It tolerates the full sun to part shade (some source claims it prefers part afternoon shade). It should be protected from strong wind. It should be planted where it has enough room to spread and reach its fullest potential.
In case of propagation by seed, the entire fruit should be planted. The outer layer of the fruit must not be removed, because of it protects the inside nut from the drying out, which could inhibit germination. Although there are several embryos inside the nut, only one will germinate. Germination can take up to eighteen months, but after that the seedlings and saplings grow rapidly. Its overage growing rate is half meter per year, and it can reach the 7-8m in 20 years. The sapling needs regular watering, but later enough only in times of drought. The young sapling also must be protected from frost. Although tolerant of some pruning, but pruning will not keep it smaller, only hideous.
It normally takes 10-15 years after planting for a tree to flower, and it may not regularly flower each year thereafter. The flowers of the Dove tree have intense scent, so it is suggested to plant this specimen away from a window or door.
Usually it has no serious insect or disease problems.
The var. vilmoriniana is, which has proved much better able to adapt to the climatic conditions in Europe and North America.