Yellow
Mandarin
Disporum
lanuginosum
You
Are Here: Wildflower Guide > Mid Spring > Yellow
Mandarin
To go back
to the master directory, click on the Wildflower Guide button above.
To jump back to the Mid
Spring group, click here.
To jump to another season,
click one of these links: early spring : late
spring : mid-summer : late
summer : fall : winter
Mandarins
are members of the Lily family - they are similar in general structure and
appearance to Solomon's Plume and Rose Twisted Stalk. They are not common,
but where found can be abundant. As they first emerge in mid-spring, they
look just like Solomon's Plume - a single stalk of tightly curled leaves.
As they mature, Mandarin stems will fork into usually three branches. The
flowers are always found (usually in pairs) at the end of the branches,
and always hang downwards. The slightest breeze will set these delicate
flowers in motion.The flowers are a pale yellow-to-green, consisting of
six narrow, sharply pointed petals. The stems are distinctly "crooked"
at each leaf junction.The one pictured here is usually referred to as "Yellow"
Mandarin. I've found large patches of this particular plant north of Asheville
close to the BR Parkway. They grow in rich, open hardwood forest. If you
are very lucky, you might see a second, much rarer species -"Nodding" Mandarin,
or Disporum maculatum. It looks very similar to the above, but the
petals are cream-colored with small purple freckles. I've seen D. maculatum
only in North Georgia so far. fdudley@weaversites.com
Fiona Dudley
Weaversites
986 Reems Creek Road
Weaverville NC 28787
828-231-1501
All contents
of this website ©1998-2002 Weaversites. All rights reserved.
