The genus Michelia L. (Magnoliaceae) comprises 70 species of tropical or subtropical evergreen trees or shrubs distributed in Asia (Xia et al., 2008). Some of these species are well known as horticultural plants in landscape gardening (Tian, 2007; Zhang et al., 2007). Michelia crassipes Law is an evergreen shrub native to southeastern China (Xia et al., 2008) where it is widely cultivated for its purple flowers that are unique in the genus (Liu, 2004). Thus, this characteristic makes M. crassipes highly desirable in breeding new cultivars because the flowers of most species of Michelia are white or yellowy (Liu, 2004). Up to now, four cultivars have been selected or bred from M. crassipes (Gong et al., 2003; Liao, 2007). Michelia crassipes ‘Mozi’ is a commercially available selection introduced by the Hunan Province Forest Botanical Garden that has larger, dark purple flowers with a silver edge, which occurred as a spontaneous mutation on a plant growing wild in Hunan (Liao, 2007). Three cultivars, including M. ‘Yujin’, M. ‘Danxin’, and M. ‘Qinfang’, are interspecific hybrids between M. crassipes and M. yunnanensis. M. calcicola C. Y. Wu is an evergreen tree native to the subtropical limestone forests of southeastern and eastern China (Liu, 2004). It has attractive, large, yellow flowers with a size of 8 to 10 cm in diameter. Both M. crassipes and M. calcicola flower from March to May with single flowers lasting from 5 to 7 d. M. ‘Chilongzhua’ and M. ‘Yanzhizui’ are hybrids of M. crassipes and M. calcicola selected for their distinctive flower color and fragrance.

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‘Chilongzhua’ and ‘Yanzhizui’: Two Interspecific Hybrid Cultivars of Michelia

In order to know better about the hereditary and variation of the F1 hybrid,and provide data to the new ornamental selected from the F1 hybrids,we study the leaf anatomy and epidermal micromorphology of Michelia crassipes(♀),M.calcicola(♂) and their F1 hybrids.The parents are very different from each other in the two aspects.The phenotype of the F1 hybrid shows continuous variation.Fifty-seven point seven percent of the hybrids have higher stoma density than the parents.The dwarf F1 hybrids have lower stoma density which maybe means good cold resistance.The dwarf F1 hybrids can be used as materials for the beautiful dwarf cultivars or the more cold resistant ones.

Zhao Xing

Papers

A Study on Leaf Anatomy and Epidermal Micromorphology of Michelia crassipes Law(♀),M.calcicola C.Y.Wu(♂) and Their F_1 Hybrids