Gordonia

Gordonia.

Gordonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, related to Franklinia, Camellia, and Stewartia. Of the roughly 40 species, all but two are native to southeast Asia, southern China, Taiwan and Indochina. The remaining species, G. lasianthus, is native to southeast North America, from Virginia south to Florida and west to Louisiana; G. fruticosa is native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Brazil. They are evergreen trees, growing to 10–20 m tall, with thick bark that are deeply fissured. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, serrated, thick, leathery, glossy, and 6–18 cm long. The flowers are large and conspicuous, 4–15 cm diameter, with 5 (occasionally 6-8) white petals; flowering is in late winter or early spring. The fruit is a dry five-valved capsule, with 1-4 seeds in each section. They also have a high rainfall requirement and will not tolerate drought. Gordonia chrysandra may have anti-inflammatory medicinal properties.

Credit: Wikipedia