Abeliophyllum

Abeliophyllum
File:Abeliophyllum-distichum.jpg
Conservation status
See text
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae
Tribe:	Forsythieae
Genus:	Abeliophyllum Nakai
Species:	A. distichum
Binomial name
Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai
File:Distribution.abeliophyllum.distichum.png

Abeliophyllum (White Forsythia, or Korean Abelialeaf) is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the olive family, Oleaceae. It consists of one species, Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai, endemic to Korea, where it is endangered in the wild, occurring at only seven sites. It is related to Forsythia, but differs in having white, not yellow, flowers.

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1–2 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple, 6–10 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide, pubescent both above and below. The flowers are produced in early spring before the new leaves appear; they are white and fragrant, about 1 cm long, with a four-lobed corolla. The fruit is a round, winged samara 2–3 cm diameter.

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in Europe and North America.

Conservation status

In 1998, a review of the plant's conservation status found that "it is close to extinction and qualifies for the IUCN Category of 'Critically Endangered', indicating a high risk of extinction in the near future."; but as of 2009 it has not yet been formally assessed for the IUCN Red List.

References

• University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens: Abeliophyllum distichum