Alangium (Alangium Platanifolium Var. Macrophyllum)

Features and Characteristics

Alangium platanifolium, commonly called alangium or lobed-leaf alangium is a large deciduous shrub or small tree of the dogwood family (some experts assert it belongs in its own family of Alangiaceae). It typically matures over time to 12-15’ tall and as wide. It grows in a vase-shape when young, but rounds with age. It is native to Japan and Korea. It is noted for its attractive foliage and its small but showy flowers (somewhat resembling white martagon lilies). Broad, yellowish-green, cordate-based leaves (to 4-8” long) resemble the leaves of some maples, sycamores or London plane trees. Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. Leaves typically have 3-5 prominent pointed lobes with cordate bases. White flowers in June bloom from the leaf axils of the stems from the previous year in 1-7 flowered cymes. Each flower has six recurved, strap-shaped, white petals with long, showy, bright yellow anthers. Flowers are followed by egg-shaped fruits (drupes) which mature to blue in fall at the same time as the leaves begin turning a nicely-contrasting yellow.

Var. macrophyllum is distinguished from the species by having leaves that are broader and larger as suggested by the variety name which comes from Latin meaning large (macro) and leaf (phylum). Some authorities asserts that var. platanifolium and the species are synonymous based upon the proposition that leaf size is part of the natural variation that occurs within a species in different geographic areas.

Genus name comes from the Tamil name of alangi.

Specific epithet means the leaves or (folium) resemble those of the plane tree, Platanus.