Davidia involucrata Dove-tree

An unmistakable medium-sized tree when it is in flower and fruit. Two, white bracts surround the inflorescence, one much larger than the other, giving the fanciful illusions of a white dove in flight, especially when blowing about in the wind, hence its common name. It is also called the Handkerchief Tree for more obvious reasons. The rounded fruits, which stand out against the white background of the bracts, are about 2.5cm in diameter and become a dark purple-brown colour at maturity. The heart-shaped leaves have a prominent tip and are similar to those of Lime. There are two varieties, var. involucrata and var. vimoriniana, which may be better considered as separate species. They differ in their chromosome numbers and they are not interfertile. It is widely planted in parks, large gardens and other places. Most specimens in cultivation are referrable to Davidia involucrata var. vimoriniana. It was first described and named by Farther Amand David who found a single tree in the mountains of western China in 1869 and from whom it gets its generic name. More trees, some forming groves on cliff overhangs and in gorges, were subsequently found there by various collectors employed by Kew Gardens and other arboreta. It is a Tertiary relict species, probably more widespread in the Teriary forests of Eurasia and therefore palaeoendemic in its current native distribution. A number of bioactive compounds have been found in Davidia involucrata, which include various triterpinoids, flavonoids, alkaloid glycosides and tannins. An ellagitannin compound which has been named davidiin appears to have anti-diabetic and anti-cancer effects. It is widely planted in large parks and botanic gardens in West Glamorgan but it does not occur wild.