Forsythia suspensa, commonly known as weeping forsythia[3] or golden-bell,[4] is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae. It is native to China.[2]

Forsythia suspensa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Forsythia
Species:
F. suspensa
Binomial name
Forsythia suspensa
Synonyms[2]
  • Forsythia fortunei Lindl.
  • Forsythia giraldiana f. pubescens (Rehder) C.S.Niu
  • Forsythia sieboldii (Zabel) Dippel
  • Ligustrum suspensum Thunb.
  • Lilac perpensa Lam.
  • Rangium suspensum (Thunb.) Ohwi
  • Syringa suspensa Thunb.

Taxonomy

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The Latin epithet of suspensa is derived from suspensus meaning suspended.[5] It was first described and published in Enum. Pl. Obs. Vol.1 on page 39 in 1804.[2]

Description

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Forsythia suspensa is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 3 metres (9.8 feet) tall. Its flowers are golden-yellow and they bloom March to April.[2] Leaves are green in color, broadly-ovate, and simple.[2]

It can be grown as a weeping shrub on stream banks and can be identified by its pale flowers. Garden cultivars can be found. It is a spring flowering shrub, with yellow flowers. It is grown and prized for its toughness.[6] Before Forsythia × intermedia was known as a true wild Chinese species, F. suspensa was considered one of its parents.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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Forsythia suspensa is native to China. It is introduced in Japan, Spain, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Korea, as well as some parts of the United States.[2] It grows in thickets or grassy areas on slopes and valleys.[7]

Uses

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It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.[8] It contains the lignans Pinoresinol[9] and phillyrin.

References

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  1. ^ "Forsythia suspensa". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  3. ^ NRCS. "Forsythia suspensa". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  4. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton (1891). An Elementary Latin Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199102051.
  6. ^ Royal Horticultural Society (Great Britain) (1992). The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-001-8.
  7. ^ "Forsythia suspensa in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
  8. ^ "Forsythia suspensa - Plants For A Future database report". Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  9. ^ Davin, Laurence B.; Bedgar, Diana L.; Katayama, Takeshi; Lewis, Norman G. (1992). "On the stereoselective synthesis of (+)-pinoresinol in Forsythia suspensa from its achiral precursor, coniferyl alcohol". Phytochemistry. 31 (11): 3869–3874. Bibcode:1992PChem..31.3869D. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97544-7. PMID 11536515.
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