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Firmiana simplex

Common name:	Chinese Parasol Tree	Family:	Sterculiaceae
Author:	(L.)W.Wight.	Botanical references:	11, 109, 200
Synonyms:	Sterculia platanifolia (L.f.), Sterculia mariesii, Hibiscus simplex (L.), Firmiana platanifolia ((L.f.)Marsili.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China.
Habitat:	Along the sides of roads at low altitudes[109].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Chinese Parasol Tree [DEN2], Chinese Parasol-tree [B], Chinese Parasoltree [P], Wu T'Ung [E], Wu Tung Chiu [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	simplex = simple;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Malvales. Cacao family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China; Malaya

Physical Characteristics

A decidious tree growing to 15m by 10m . It is hardy to zone 9. It is in flower in July. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Canopy, Secondary.

Edible Uses

Seed.

Seed - roasted[105, 177]. An oily texture[178].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antiphlogistic; Astringent; Expectorant; Refrigerant; Salve.

Astringent, salve[178].
The seed is antiphlogistic, expectorant and refrigerant[218].
A decoction of the roots is used to reduce swellings[218].
A lotion of the leaves is used in the treatment of carbuncles, haemorrhoids and sores[218].

Other Uses

Fibre; Hair; Wood.

A fibre is obtained by retting the bark[46, 61]. It is used for coarse cordage[109] and cloth[178].
A hair wash is made from the leaves and fibre[178].
Wood. Used for making furniture and coffins[46, 61, 178].

Cultivation details

Prefers a good sandy loam[1]. Requires a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil in full sun or light shade[188].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they succeed outdoors in the mildest parts of the country[11, 166], though they do not reach tree-size[188].
Trees cast a heavy shade[178].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse[200]. The stored seed can be sown in the early spring in a greenhouse[1] and usually germinates within 2 months[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[DEN] Data _ Photos (Good Identification info) from the Virginia Tech's Dendrology Deptarments' Tree Fact Sheets.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Firmiana platanifolia (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Sterculia platanifolia (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for firmiana simplex (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

References for the family Sterculiaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[109] Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.