Calycanthus (sweetshrub, spicebush or strawberry-bush) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Calycanthaceae, endemic to North America. The genus includes two to four species depending on taxonomic interpretation; two are accepted by the Flora of North America.

They are deciduous shrubs growing to 2-4 m tall. The leaves are opposite, entire, 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm broad. The flowers are produced in early summer after the leaves, 4-7 cm broad, with numerous spirally-arranged narrow dark red tepals (resembling a small magnolia flower); they are strongly scented. The fruit is an elliptic dry capsule 5-7 cm long, containing numerous seeds.

Species

• Calycanthus floridus (Carolina Sweetshrub). Pennsylvania and Ohio south to Mississippi and northern Florida.
  • Calycanthus floridus var. floridus (syn. C. mohrii). Twigs pubescent.
  • Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus (syn. C. fertilis). Twigs glabrous.
• Calycanthus occidentalis (California Sweetshrub). California (widespread), Washington (local, Seattle area).

More on [ Calycanthus ]

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