1 Graine Xanthoceras à feuilles de sorbier, Xanthoceras sorbifolium

Xantoceras with Sorbier leaves, Xanthoceras Sorbifolia |

Xanthoceras Sorbifolium is a flower shrub of Sapindaceae which is the only species of Genre Xanthoceras. He is from China and Korea3.

It is cultivated in Europe in the temperate climate regions for its ornamental qualities, because its flowering at the end of spring and early summer produces scented flowers, white tinged with rose-red inside.

1 Graine - Légere scarification, soak the seeds 12/24 h in the water before sowing at 20/30 ° C - Rusticity: -15 ° C, drought resistant - Fast growth

This leaf shrub Caduques, can reach 2 to 5 meters highN 1. Its corpulent branches are brownish red. He can live several hundred years5.

It has composed leaves resembling those of Sorbier of birds, characteristic having motivated its name. They are alternated, measure from 12 to 30 cm in length and bear 4-8 pairs of cutting leaflets in saw and a terminal leaflet generally deeply 3-lobed6.

It wears male flowers and bisexed flowers on the same plant but not on the same inflorescence6. Bisexed inflorescences are terminal, the axillary males, erected. The white flowers, scented, measure 2 to 3 cm in diameter with five nested separate , five white petals, purplish or yellow red at the base, and a 5 lobes disc (which alternate with the petals). They are gathered in Panicles 10 to 20 cm in length, in the middle of spring (May-June).

The fruits are presented in autumn in the form of Capsules oval 5 to 6 cm in diameter which separate into three sections (carpels) at maturity, leaving 6 to 18 seeds of dark brown color of 1.5 cm of diameter resembling those of the species AESCULUS (Marronnier) but are edible. Their taste is close to a chestnut gentle.

The genre name Xantho.Ceras is composed of the Greek words ξανθος Xanthos " Yellow " (Blond) and κέρας, Keras " Horn "of animal, referring to the flowers with the lobes of the corneal-based disc (see the illustration opposite).

The specific epithet Sorbi.folium is a Latin formation meaning " Sorbier sheet .

The species was described by the German botanist of the Baltic Alexander Bunge in 1833 in Enumeratio Plantarum, quas in China Boreali (St-Petersburg), and Posted in Mem. Acad. Imp. SCI. St.-Petersburg4. It is classified in the Sapindaceae, next to Koelreutera Paniculata.

Its seeds, flowers and leaves are edible7.

• Afforestation in China

In many regions of northern China, it is cultivated on large woods of afforestation8. The soil must be deep, well drained. He tolerates cold and drought well. This is the favorite species for Boise the sterile mountains. It is used for protection against wind and sand fixing, the management of small watersheds and the fight against desertification.

Its solid and dense wood is used to make furniture and utensils.

The name of this species in his country of origin is 文冠果 Wén Guān Guǒ.

• Ornamental culture in Europe

It is cultivated in Europe in the temperate climate regions for its ornamental qualities, because its flowering at the end of spring and early summer produces fragrant flowers, white tinged with rose-red inside9.

It grows in clay-siliceous, furniture, permeable and limestone soils10 but does not like to be transplanted. Very fragile in the state of young plant, it later becomes very resistant when it is well installed, with the roots dry in winter.

It is a rustic species, tolerating the temperatures of −20 ° C. He appreciates sunny and warm exhibitions.

• Medicinal use in China

In the terminology of traditional Chinese medicine8 :

Characteristics : Soft, slightly bitterN 2.

Indications : Eliminate the wind and humidityN 3. Reduces Inflammations and relieves pain, treats rheumatism.

• Food use

The seeds are rich in oil. Formerly, the population extracted the oil from the seeds to make it a fuel from the Buddhist lanterns.

With a content is 66 %, the seed is rich in oil. Oil contains 53 % D ’Oleic acid and 38 % linoleic acid11. It is a light yellow, transparent oil.

This oil is used in food and industry, trials are done to make Biodiesels.

Contents subject to the CC-BY-SA 3.0 license. Source : Article Xanthoceras Sorbifolium from Wikipedia in French (Authors)