| Lilac | |
|---|---|
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| Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac) flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Unranked: | Angiosperms |
| Unranked: | Eudicots |
| Unranked: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Tribe: | Oleeae |
| Genus: | Syringa Mill. |
| Species | |
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About 20 species; see text. | |
Syringa (Lilac) is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering woody plants in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia.[1][2][3][4]
Syringa josikaea
They are deciduous shrubs or small trees, ranging in size from 2-10 m tall, with stems up to 20-30 cm diameter. The leaves are opposite (occasionally in whorls of three) in arrangement, and their shape is simple and heart-shaped to broad lanceolate in most species, but pinnate in a few species (e.g. S. protolaciniata, S. pinnatifolia). The flowers are produced in spring, each flower being 5-10 mm in diameter with a four-lobed corolla, the corolla tube narrow, 5-20 mm long; they are bisexual, with fertile stamens and stigma in each flower. The usual flower colour is a shade of purple (often a light purple or lilac), but white, pale yellow and pink, and even a dark burgundy color are also found. The flowers grow in large panicles, and in several species have a strong fragrance. Flowering varies between mid spring to early summer, depending on the species. The fruit is a dry, brown capsule, splitting in two at maturity to release the two winged seeds.[2][3][4][5]
The genus is most closely related to Ligustrum (privet), classified with it in Oleaceae tribus Oleeae subtribus Ligustrinae.[6]
Lilacs are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Copper Underwing, Scalloped Oak and Svensson's Copper Underwing and Saras.
Species[]
Syringa microphylla
Lilacs as showcased in the Lilac Celebration held each May at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario
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References[]
- ↑ Flora Europaea: Syringa
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flora of China: Syringa
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Flora of Pakistan: Syringa
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Germplasm Resources Information Network: Syringa
- ↑ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
- ↑ University of Oxford, Oleaceae information site: New classification of the Oleaceae