Xanthoceras

taxobox
name = Xanthoceras

---

image_caption = 1887 illustration
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Sapindaceae
genus = "Xanthoceras"
genus_authority = Bunge
species = "X. sorbifolium"
binomial = "Xanthoceras sorbifolium"
binomial_authority = Bunge|

"Xanthoceras sorbifolium" (Yellowhorn), the sole species in the genus "Xanthoceras", is a flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae, native to northern China in the provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Nei Monggol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shandong.Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?42074 "Xanthoceras sorbifolium"] ]

It is a large shrub or small tree growing to 8 m tall. The leaves are arranged alternately, 12–30 cm long, and are pinnate, with 9–17 leaflets, the leaflets 3–6 cm long, with a sharly serrated margin. The flowers are 2–3 cm diameter, with five white petals, and are produced in erect panicles 10–20 cm long in mid spring. The fruit is an oval leathery capsule 5–6 cm diameter, which splits into three sections at maturity to release the 6–18 seeds; the seeds are black, 1.5 cm diameter, resembling a small "Aesculus" seed.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.] University of British Columbia [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?42074 Botany Photo of the Day: "Xanthoceras sorbifolium"] ]

The genus considered to be the most basal member of the family.Harrington, M. G., Edwards, K. J., Johnson, S. A., Mark W. Chase, M. W., & Gadek, P. A. (2005). Phylogenetic inference in Sapindaceae "sensu lato" using plastid "mat"K and "rbc"L DNA sequences. "Systematic Botany" 30 (2): 366-382. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2005/00000030/00000002/art00012?token=00661f73a30600ba68e944f58762f417c4e7547543c7e386f6468467c79675d7c405847447b23442f7873446f386b466648bc9 Abstract.] ]

The genus name means 'yellow horn'. The species name refers to the leaves, similar to those of rowans ("Sorbus"). It was originally spelled as "sorbifolia", but this is a grammatical error to be corrected to "sorbifolium" under the ICBN.

References