What is the difference between腊梅 (Chimonanthus praecox) and梅花 (Prunus mume)?
You may not know the difference between腊梅 and梅花 and the brief introduction of plant cultivation experiences related to their differences. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Many people think that腊梅 and梅花 are the same plant, but this is completely wrong. They belong to different families and genera. Although both腊梅 and梅花 bloom before unfolding their leaves and their flowering seasons are in winter and spring, there are still significant differences between the two. Let's take a look together!
腊梅
Chimonanthus praecox belongs to the family Chimonanthus and is a deciduous shrub that often grows in clusters. The leaves are opposite, elliptical to ovate-lanceolate, and the flowers are borne in the leaf axils of the second-year branches. They bloom before the leaves, are fragrant, and measure 2-4 centimeters in diameter. The perianth segments are round, oblong, obovate, elliptical, or spoon-shaped, hairless, and the filaments are longer or equal in length to the anthers. The anthers are incurved and hairless. The pistil is three times as long as the ovary, with the base covered with hair. The fruiting body is nearly lignified, the mouth is contracted, and it has a needle-like, lanceolate appendage covered with hair. It blooms before the leaves in late winter.
梅花
Prunus mume is a small tree of the Rosaceae family and杏 (apricot) genus, rarely a shrub. The bark is light gray or greenish, smooth, the young branches are green and smooth, and the leaves are ovate or elliptical. Native to southern China, it has a cultivation history of over three thousand years. There are many varieties for both ornamental and fruit purposes. It is known as one of the "Four Gentlemen" along with orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, and also as one of the "Three Companions of Cold Winter" with pine and bamboo. In severe cold,梅花 blooms before all other flowers, dominating the spring.
Differences between 腊梅 and 梅花
1. Different families and genera: Chimonanthus praecox belongs to the family Chimonanthus and is a deciduous shrub, while Prunus mume belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a small tree.
2. Different flower colors: Chimonanthus praecox flowers are mainly wax yellow, while Prunus mume flowers come in white, pink, deep red, and purple-red.
3. Different flowering periods: Chimonanthus praecox usually blooms in the twelfth lunar month, about two months earlier than Prunus mume.
4. Different crown shapes: Chimonanthus praecox is a shrub with branched stems that are upright and a well-developed root neck that is block-shaped. Prunus mume is a tree with a trunk, reaching up to 10 meters high, often with thorns. The branches include straight and drooping ones, and the crown is irregularly round-topped.
5. Different leaves: Chimonanthus praecox leaves are opposite, nearly leathery, long elliptical, entire, rough on the upper surface and green, smooth on the lower surface and gray. Prunus mume leaves are alternate, broadly ovate to ovate, 4-10 centimeters long, acuminate or caudate at the apex, with fine and sharp serrations on the edge, broadly cuneate or nearly round at the base. Both surfaces are covered with short pubescence when young, which later falls off, with the growing new leaves having pubescence only on the veins on the lower surface, particularly in the axils.
The above introduction on the differences between Chimonanthus praecox and Prunus mume, as well as the related differences, hopes to provide you with some help. Don't forget to check out more flower cultivation experiences and knowledge!