- Firmiana simplex
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Chinese Parasol Tree 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Firmiana Species: F. simplex Binomial name Firmiana simplex
(L.) W.F.Wight[1]The Chinese parasol tree or wutong (Chinese: 梧桐; pinyin: wútóng, Firmiana simplex, syn. Hibiscus collinus Roxb., Hibiscus simplex L., Firmiana platanifolia, or Sterculia platanifolia L.f.) is an ornamental plant or tree of the cacao, or chocolate, of the family Sterculiaceae of the order Malvales, native to Asia. It grows to a height of 12 m (40 feet). It has alternate, deciduous leaves up to 30 cm (12 inches) across and small greenish white flowers that are borne in clusters. It is grown as an ornamental in warm regions of North America.
Due to its superior sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the guqin and guzheng.
According to an article in the journal Nature of 1884, the leaves of Sterculia platanifolia were dried for smoking;[2] the reason for for smoking it was not given, but another source simply says that it was used as a substitute for tobacco.[1][2]
References
- ^ Firmiana simplex at the Encyclopedia of Life
- ^ Anon, Nature, August 7 1884, pp 337-338
External links
- Firmiana simplex - The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Firmiana simplex - Louisiana State University
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