Photinia

Photinia /ftni/[2] is a genus of about 4060 species

of small trees and large shrubs, but the taxonomy has
recently varied greatly, with the genera Heteromeles,
Stranvaesia and Aronia sometimes included in Photinia.
They are a part of the rose family (Rosaceae) and related
to the apple. The botanical genus name derives from the
Greek word photeinos for shiny and refers to the often
glossy leaves. Most species are evergreen, but deciduous
species also occur. The small apple-shaped fruit has a
size of 4 to 12 mm and forms in large quantities. They
ripen in the fall and often remain hanging on the bush
until well into the winter. The fruits are used as food by
birds, which excrete the seeds with their droppings and Photinia fraseri - (Red Robin), showing the red colour of new
thereby distribute the plant.
growth contrasted to the glossy green older leaves.
The natural range of these species is restricted to warm
temperate Asia, from the Himalaya east to Japan and
south to India and Thailand. They have, however, been
widely cultivated throughout the world as ornamentals for
their white owers and red fruits. The red colour of the
new leaves in spring, contrasted against the dark evergreen older leaves, has given the plant the popular name
Red Robin to the cultivar Photinia fraseri.[3]

the fall and often persisting well into the winter. The fruit
are consumed by birds, including thrushes, waxwings and
starlings; the seeds are dispersed in their droppings. Photinia species are sometimes used as food plants by the
larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Common
Emerald, Feathered Thorn and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Some varieties of Photinia are toxic due to the presence

of cyanogenic glycosides in the foliage and fruit.

2 Taxonomy

The scientic name Photinia is also widely used as

the common name. Another name sometimes used is
Christmas berry, but this name is a source of confusion, since it is commonly applied to plants in several genera including Heteromeles, Lycium, Schinus, and Ruscus.
The name photinia also continues to be used for several species of small trees in the mountains of Mexico
and Central America which had formerly been included
in the genus Photinia.[4]

Some botanists also include the closely related North

American species Heteromeles arbutifolia in Photinia
as Photinia arbutifolia. The genus Stranvaesia is so similar in morphology to Photinia that its species have sometimes been included within it,[5][6] but recent molecular
data[7] indicate that the two genera are not related. The
genus Aronia has been included in Photinia in some
classications,[8] but recent molecular data conrm that
these genera are not closely related.[7] Other close relatives include the rethorns (Pyracantha), cotoneasters
(Cotoneaster) and hawthorns (Crataegus).

Description

Photinias typically grow from 415 m tall, with a usually irregular crown of angular branches; the branches
are often (not always) thorny. The leaves are alternate,
entire or nely toothed, varying between species from
315 cm in length and 1.55 cm wide; the majority of
species are evergreen but several are deciduous. The
owers are produced in early summer in dense terminal
corymbs; each ower is 510 mm diameter, with ve
rounded white petals; they have a mild, hawthorn-like
scent. The fruit is a small pome, 412 mm across, bright
red and berry-like, produced large quantities, maturing in

A number of species have been moved to the separate

genus Stranvaesia including P. amphidoxa, P. davidiana,
P. nussia, and P. tomentosa.

3 Uses
Photinias are very popular ornamental shrubs, grown for
their fruit and foliage. Numerous hybrids and cultivars
are available; several of the cultivars are selected for their
1

REFERENCES

to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which blocks cellular respiration. The amount of HCN produced varies considerably between taxa, and is in general greatest in
young leaves.[11] Ruminants are particularly aected by
cyanogenic glycosides because the rst stage of their digestive system (the rumen) provides better conditions
for liberating HCN than the stomachs of monogastric
vertebrates.[12]

5 Species list
Flower of an ornamental shrub cultivar

strikingly bright red young leaves in spring and summer.

The most widely planted are:
Photinia fraseri (P. glabra P. serratifolia) - Red
Tip Photinia
Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin' - probably the most widely planted of all, it has
gained the Royal Horticultural Society's
Award of Garden Merit[9]
Photinia fraseri 'Little Red Robin', a
plant similar to 'Red Robin', but dwarf in
stature with an ultimate height/spread of
around 23 ft
Photinia fraseri 'Camilvy'
Photinia fraseri 'Curly Fantasy'
Photinia fraseri 'Super Hedger' - a
newer hybrid with strong upright growth
Photinia fraseri 'Pink Marble' also
known as 'Cassini', a new cultivar with
rose-pink tinted new growth and a
creamy-white variegated margin on the
leaves
Photinia 'Redstart' (Stranvaesia davidiana P.
fraseri)
Photinia 'Palette' (parentage unknown)
Photinia davidiana 'Fructu Luteo' (fruit yellow)
Photinia davidiana 'Prostrata' (a low-growing form)

Toxicity

6 References
[1] Potter, D., et al. (2007). Phylogeny and classication
of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1
2): 543. [Referring to the subfamily by the name Spiraeoideae"]
[2] Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606607
[3] Photinia royel Horticultural Society. Accessed May 2013
[4] James B. Phipps. 1992. "Heteromeles and Photinia
(Rosaceae subfam. Maloideae) of Mexico and Central
America. Canadian Journal of Botany (Revue canadienne de botanique) 70(11):2138-2162.
[5] Vidal J. E. (1965). Notes sur quelques Rosaces Asiatique
(II) (Photinia, Stranvaesia). Adansonia 5: 221237
[6] Kalkman C. (1973). The Malesian species of the subfamily Maloideae (Rosaceae). Blumea 21: 413442
[7] Campbell, C.S.; Evans, R.C.; Morgan, D.R.; Dickinson,
T.A.; Arsenault, M.P. (2007). Phylogeny of subtribe
Pyrinae (formerly the Maloideae, Rosaceae): Limited resolution of a complex evolutionary history. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(12): 119145.
[8] Robertson, K.R.; Phipps, J.B.; Rohrer, J.R.; Smith, P.G.
(1991). A synopsis of genera in Maloideae (Rosaceae).
Systematic Botany. 16(2): 376394.
[9] RHS Plant Selector - Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'". Retrieved 26 May 2013.
[10] Table 4: Poisonous Range Plants of Temperate North
America. Merck Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 201105-05.
[11] K. A. Jacobs, F. S. Santamour, Jr., G. R. Johnson, M.
A. Dirrs (September 1996). Dierential Resistance to
Entomosporium Leafspot Disease and Hydrogen Cyanide
Potential in Photinia (PDF). J. Environ. Hort. 14 (3):
154157.

Some varieties of Photinia are toxic due to the pres- [12] Lester R. Vough, E. Kim Cassel (2004, 2006). Prussic
ence of cyanogenic glycosides in the vacuoles of foAcid Poisoning of Livestock: Causes and Prevention
liage and fruit cells.[10] When the leaves are chewed
(ExEx 4016)" (PDF). South Dakota State University. Rethese compounds are released and are rapidly converted
trieved 2011-05-04. Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links
Flora of China: Photinia
Flora of China: Stranvaesia

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

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Photinia Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photinia?oldid=623354386 Contributors: Lumos3, MPF, Wouterhagens, Chowbok,

DanielCD, CanisRufus, Kwamikagami, Fir0002, Chilepine, Richard Barlow, TheAlphaWolf, FlaBot, Eubot, Chobot, Gdrbot, YurikBot,
RussBot, IceCreamAntisocial, SmackBot, Rkitko, Muhammad Hamza, Vina-iwbot, MrDarwin, Valfontis, Kevmin, Bubbha, WeggeBot,
Cydebot, Hotsphink, Visik, Nipisiquit, JAnDbot, Deective, Arch dude, Nadiatalent, Pjmpjm, TXiKiBoT, Mild Bill Hiccup, Pointillist,
PixelBot, Lokionly, Tdslk, Addbot, Sillyfolkboy, Culmensis, Flakinho, Yobot, Yngvadottir, Jdeb901, AnomieBOT, Cottonapple4, Thehelpfulbot, D'ohBot, GE100, RjwilmsiBot, EmausBot, WikitanvirBot, SporkBot, Rashatford, ClueBot NG, Darorcilmir, Ocotea, Mogism
and Anonymous: 19

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