Kerria

de Candolle

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 12: 156. 1818.

Introduced
Etymology: For William Kerr, d. 1814 collector in the far east, sponsored by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and superintendent of Botanic Garden, Peradinaya, Sri Lanka
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 389. Mentioned on page 386, 387.

Shrubs, spreading, open, rounded, 10–20(–30) dm; rhizomatous, suckering freely. Stems 1–30+, widely arcuate, sparingly branched; bark (periderm) not forming, epidermis green, striate, glabrous; short shoots absent; unarmed; bud scales imbricate. Leaves winter-deciduous, cauline, alternate; stipules caducous, linear-subulate, thin, margins entire ± strigose-ciliate; petiole present; blade ovate to lance-ovate, 2–8.5 cm, membranous, margins flat, coarsely doubly serrate, abaxial surface sparsely sericeous-strigose along veins. Inflorescences terminal on vernal, leaf-bearing lateral branches, flowers solitary, sparsely strigose or glabrous; bracts absent; bracteoles absent or present, leaflike. Pedicels present. Flowers 20–50 mm diam.; epicalyx bractlets 0; hypanthium saucer-shaped, 3–4 mm diam., glabrous; sepals (4 or)5(or 6), spreading to reflexed, oblong-ovate to ± orbiculate; petals (4 or)5(or 6), to 34 in multi-petaled cultivars, spreading, strong yellow to slightly orangish or yellow-cream (some petals white in multi-petaled cultivars), oblong-ovate to orbiculate, base short-clawed, apex rounded to emarginate; stamens 80–130 (0 or few in multi-petaled cultivars), shorter than petals; torus absent; carpels (4–)5(–8), globose, glabrous, styles lateral, linear, ± exceeding filaments; ovules 2. Fruits aggregated nutlets, (1–)5 in 1 whorl, tan, obliquely obovoid-globose, 4.5–5 mm, with distinct adaxial ridge, glabrous except for coarse basal hypanthial hairs; hypanthium persistent; sepals persistent (withering), reflexed; exocarp thin, wrinkled, mesocarp thin, dry, endocarp ± cartilaginous. x = 9.

Distribution

Introduced; e Asia (China, Japan), introduced also in Europe.

Discussion

Species 1.

Kerria is a distinctive mesophytic shrub, native to montane forests and valleys at 200–3000 m in China and Japan, now widely cultivated. Morphologically, it stands closest to Neviusia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Kerria"
James Henrickson +  and Alan S. Weakley +
de Candolle +
e Asia (China +, Japan) +  and introduced also in Europe. +
For William Kerr, d. 1814 collector in the far east, sponsored by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and superintendent of Botanic Garden, Peradinaya, Sri Lanka +
Trans. Linn. Soc. London +
Introduced +
Rosaceae tribe Kerrieae +