Abelia

Abelia /əˈbiːliə/[1] is a formerly recognized genus that contained about 30 species and hybrids, placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the genus was not monophyletic, and in 2013, Maarten Christenhusz proposed the merger of Abelia (excluding section Zabelia) into Linnaea, along with some other genera. Abelia section Zabelia was raised to the genus Zabelia.[2]

Abelia chinensis

Description

Species formerly placed in Abelia are shrubs from 1–6 m tall, native to eastern Asia (Japan west to the Himalaya) and southern North America (Mexico); the species from warm climates are evergreen, and colder climate species deciduous. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, ovate, glossy, dark green, 1.5–8 cm long, turning purplish-bronze to red in autumn in the deciduous species. The flowers appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends, 1-8 together in a short cyme; they are pendulous, white to pink, bell-shaped with a five-lobed corolla, 1–5 cm long, and usually scented. Flowering continues over a long and continuous period from late spring to fall.

Some of these species are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, and may still be described as Abelia in horticultural listings. A notable example is the hybrid Abelia × grandiflora (now Linnaea × grandiflora).

Taxonomy

The generic name commemorates Clarke Abel, a keen naturalist who accompanied Lord Amherst's unsuccessful embassy to China in 1816 as surgeon, under the sponsorship of Sir Joseph Banks. All of Abel's seeds and plants were lost in a shipwreck on the homeward voyage, however; living plants of Abelia chinensis (now Linnaea chinensis) were first imported to England in 1844 by Robert Fortune.[3]

Some species placed in Abelia were transferred to Linnaea at various times from 1872 onwards, but these transfers were not accepted by most botanists. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that a number of genera traditionally placed in the tribe Linnaeeae were closely related, but that Abelia was not monophyletic, even with Abelia section Zabelia split off as a separate genus Zabelia. In 2013, Maarten Christenhusz proposed that Abelia and related genera be merged into Linnaea.[2] This proposal has been adopted by recent sources, including the Plants of the World Online.[4][5]

Allergenicity

Abelia has an OPALS allergy scale rating of 5, indicating moderate potential to cause allergic reactions, exacerbated by over-use of the same plant throughout a garden.[6] People allergic to honeysuckle may experience cross-reactive allergic reactions with Abelia.[6]

Symbolism

The Abelia is symbolic for equality in some parts of Mexico




Former species and synonyms

Species and synonyms previously placed in Abelia but now placed in other genera include:[7]

  1. Sunset Western Garden Book. 1995. pp. 606–607.
  2. Christenhusz, Maarten J.M. (2013), "Twins are not alone: a recircumscription of Linnaea (Caprifoliaceae)", Phytotaxa, 125 (1): 25–32, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.397.846, doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.125.1.4
  3. Alice M. Coats, Garden Shrubs and Their Histories (1964), 1992, s.v. "Abelia".
  4. "Linnaea", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2018-01-22
  5. "Beauty bush (Linnaea amabilis)". iNaturalist. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  6. Ogren, Thomas Leo (2000). Allergy-Free Gardening. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 1580081665.
  7. "Abelia", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2018-01-23
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