Dove Tree

Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana

Family

Nyssaceae

Genus

Davidia

About Our Collection

Fun Facts

  • Davidia is named after Armand David, a French missionary who lived in China and who first described a number of Chinese plants and animals for Western publication, including the giant panda. David first encountered the tree in 1869, growing at an altitude of 2,000 meters in the mountains of Sichuan Province in southwest China.

  • Davidia involucrata is a monotypic species (the only species in its genus) in the Nyssaceae.  Some taxonomists place Davidia in dogwood family (Cornaceae), while others classify it in a family of its own (Davidiaceae).

  • Taxonomists recognize two distinct varieties of dove tree that differ slightly in the morphology of their leaves. D. involucrata var. involucrata bears leaves which are pubescent (hairy) on the underside, while D. involucrata var. vilmoriniana has glabrous (hairless) leaves. Some botanists treat these varieties as distinct species.

  • Fruits of Davidia appear as solitary, ovoid (olive-shaped) drupes, each approximately 4 centimeters in length and suspended from a 10-centimeter stalk. Khaki-colored with a purple bloom to start, the fruits each contain 3-6 seeds enclosed by a hard endocarp. This tough covering may contribute to the rarity of the species in the wild, as it must become sufficiently degraded for germination to occur.

  • The vivid floral display Davidia is known for may last 10 to 14 days in May. However, it’s a phenomenon that requires some measure of patience for the grower. A young dove tree may take ten or more years to begin flowering, and even then, the species may only flower in profusion in alternate years.

Stats

Living Specimens
Specimens Dead or Removed
First Addition
Most Recent Addition
Tallest Specimen

4 Living Specimens

Plant ID Accession Date Received As Origin Source