Escallonia bifida

Escallonia bifida, the cloven gum box, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Escalloniaceae. It is native to Brazil and Uruguay.[2]

Escallonia bifida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Escalloniales
Family: Escalloniaceae
Genus: Escallonia
Species:
E. bifida
Binomial name
Escallonia bifida
Link & Otto[1]
Synonyms

Escallonia floribunda var. montevidensis Cham. & Schltdl.
Escallonia montevidensis (Cham. & Schltdl.) DC.

It can grow up to 4 m (13 ft) high and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) broad, and has dark green shiny leaves which are 2 to 7 cm long and 0.8 to 2 cm wide.The pure white flowers, initially tubular but then spreading, appear in summer.[2]

It is sparingly naturalised in New South Wales in Australia.[2] It is found in cultivation in mild coastal regions of the UK (hardy down to −5 °C (23 °F), where its dense habit makes it suitable for tall hedging. In colder areas it requires the protection of a wall. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

The Latin specific epithet bifida means “cleft in two”.[5]

References
  1. "Escallonia bifida Link & Otto". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. "New South Wales Flora Online: Escallonia bifida". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  3. "RHS Plantfinder - Escallonia bifida". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.


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