Dove tree

Dove tree

　　The dove tree, known as the "pigeon tree" in foreign countries and commonly called "jiuli zi shu" in China, is a deciduous tree. Its leaves are broadly ovate with cordate bases and serrated edges. Why is it called the pigeon tree? Because during April and May, when its pure white flowers bloom, the two large milky-white bracts at the base of the flower often flutter in the wind, resembling a pair of doves soaring through the air. It is a rare and precious ornamental plant in the world. The dove tree is unique to China and is mainly distributed in the western part of Hubei Province, Sichuan, Guizhou, and some mountainous areas of Yunnan. In our province, it can only be found in Suijiang, Yiliang, and Zhenxiong in northeastern Yunnan, and in Weixi and Gongshan in northwestern Yunnan. Pigeon trees can now be found in various countries around the world, all of which have been introduced and cultivated since the British first brought them from China in 1903. However, in China, due to excessive logging in the past, they have become relatively rare. In recent years, botanical gardens in our province have begun cultivating and researching the species, and the dove tree is set to become an important ornamental tree for beautifying our gardens. (Nujiang)