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Photinia serrulata Lindl.

Modern name

Photinia serrulata Lindl.

Synonyms

Crataegus serratifolia Desf.

An evergreen shrub, or a tree ultimately 30 to 40 ft high in favoured situations; branchlets stout, glabrous. Leaves oblong, very firm and leathery, reddish when young, 4 to 8 in. long and from 112 to 312 in. wide, rounded or tapering at the base, shallowly toothed, perfectly glabrous on both surfaces; the stalk, however, which is from 1 to 112 in. long, is clothed with whitish hairs which also extend up the midrib when young. Flowers white, 38 in. in diameter, produced in April and May in large, terminal corymbose panicles 4 to 6 in. through; petals glabrous. Fruits about the size of common haws, red. Bot. Mag., t. 2105.

Native of China; first introduced by Captain Kirkpatrick of the East India Co., in 1804. Where it thrives, this is undoubtedly one of the finest evergreens ever introduced. At Kew it is hardy in all but exceptional winters, but it is only seen at its best farther west (see below). It is most beautiful in spring, when the white flowers are associated with the rich brownish-red, shining young leaves, but near London the latter are apt to be spoilt by late spring frosts.

The following specimens have been recorded in recent years: Killerton, Devon, by the Chapel, 44 × 314 ft (1970); Pylewell Park, Hants, 26 × 212 ft (1970); Bath Botanic Garden, 30 × 314 ft (1962); Luscombe Castle, Devon, 45 × 434 ft at 3 ft (1970); Trewithen, Cornwall, 50 × 3 ft (1971); Derreen, Co. Kerry, Eire, 30 ft high on two stems (1966).

f. rotundifolia (Mouillef.) Rehd. – Leaves shorter and proportionately broader.

Note. Although this is not the place to make an important nomenclatural change, it should be pointed out that the name P. serrulata Lindl. is illegitimate, since Lindley cited Crataegus glabra Thunb. as a synonym. This is a different species (see P. glabra) but if Lindley considered his species to be the same as Thunberg’s he should have taken up the epithet glabra for it. The earliest legitimate epithet would seem to be serratifolia, from Crataegus serratifolia Desf.



From the Supplement (Vol. V)

As pointed out on pages 157-8, the correct name for this species appeared to be P. serratifolia. This is so, and the combination has now been published.

Genus

Photinia

Other species in the genus