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Lagerstroemia /lerstrimi/,* [1] commonly known The leaves of L. parviora are fed on by the Antheraea
as crape myrtle or crepe myrtle, is a genus of around paphia moth which produces the tassar silk (tussah), a
50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs form of wild silk of commercial importance in India.* [4]
native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia and parts of Oceania, cultivated in warmer
climates around the world. It is a member of the family
Lythraceae, which are also known as the loosestrife family. The genus is named after the Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerstrm, who supplied Carl Linnaeus with
plants he collected. These owering trees are beautifully
colored and are often planted both privately and commercially as ornamentals.
Description
3 SELECTED SPECIES
Lagerstroemia ovalifolia Teijsm. & Binn.
Lagerstroemia paniculata (Turcz.) S. Vidal
Lagerstoemia parviora
Lagerstroemia siamica
Lagerstroemia speciosa
Lagerstroemia stenopetala
Lagerstroemia subcostata
Lagerstroemia subsessilifolia
Lagerstroemia suprareticulata S.K. Lee & L.F. Lau
Lagerstroemia tomentosa
Lagerstroemia turbinata Koehne
Lagerstroemia venusta
Lagerstroemia villosa
Lagerstroemia anisoptera
Lagerstroemia balansae
Lagerstroemia calyculata
Lagerstroemia caudata
Lagerstroemia cristata
Lagerstroemia excelsa
Lagerstroemia fauriei
Lagerstroemia oribunda
Lagerstroemia fordii
Lagerstroemia glabra
Lagerstroemia guilinensis
Lagerstroemia indica
Lagerstroemia intermedia
Lagerstroemia langkawiensis
Lagerstroemia limii Merr.
Lagerstroemia loudonii
Lagerstroemia micrantha
Lagerstroemia minuticarpa
Lagerstroemia microcarpa
3
increasingly important, both as a landscaping plant and as
a parent in complex hybrids with L. indica. This species is
distinctly tree-like, with colorful deciduous bark and dark
green leaves which are more resistant to fungal diseases
than are those of its more popular relative. The Japanese
name for this tree is saru suberi (, literally
monkey slip, latter spelling ateji) which refers to the
smooth, slippery bark. Flowers are as large as those of
L. indica, but are white with only the slightest pink ush
appearing in some individuals. Japanese crape myrtle is
hardier to cold than many strains of L. indica, a characteristic (along with fungal resistance, tree form and colorful
bark) that makes it valuable as genetic material for hybridization. Cultivars available include 'Kiowa', 'Fantasy'
and 'Townhouse'.* [5]
L. speciosa, known as queen crape myrtle, giant crape
myrtle, or banab, originates in subtropical and tropical
India. It can be grown in any similar climate, but in the
United States is suitable only for southern Florida, southernmost Texas, southern California, and Hawaii. It is a
large evergreen tree with colorful rosy-mauve owers and
striking white bark, suitable for public parks and avenues;
only the seed-grown species is commonly available for
sale, unlike L. indica and L. fauriei, which have dozens
of cultivars.
Notes
References
Lagerstroemia. Australian Plant Name Index
(APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity
Research, Australian Government.
Flora of China: Lagerstroemia species list
Flora, The Gardeners' Bible, ABC Publishing, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, 2006
6 External links
"Lagerstromia". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
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