TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California

CALYCANTHACEAE

SWEET-SHRUB or CALYCANTHUS FAMILY

Fosiée Tahbaz

Shrubs, deciduous or evergreen, aromatic
Leaves simple, entire, opposite, short-petioled
Inflorescence: flowers solitary, terminal on bracted branches
Flower bisexual, radial, large; bracts grading into perianth; perianth parts many, spirally arrayed; stamens many, attached by short filaments to receptacle, becoming smaller and sterile inward; pistils many, simple, attached to inner face of hollow receptacle, ovules 1–2 per pistil, style thread-like, exserted from receptacle
Fruit: aggregate of achenes inside ± leathery receptacle
Genera in family: 3 genera, ± 6 species: North America, China; Calycanthus, Chimonanthus cultivated as ornamental and for fragrance.

CALYCANTHUS

Shrub, deciduous
Flower: perianth reddish brown, inner parts shorter; stamens in several whorls
Species in genus: 2 species: CA, eastern US
Etymology: (Greek: calyx flower, from hollow receptacle)

Native

C. occidentalis Hook. & Arn.

SWEET-SHRUB, SPICEBUSH

Shrub erect, 1–3+ m, ± rounded
Leaf: petiole 4–6 mm; blade 3–15 cm, widely lanceolate to elliptic or oblong, firm, base generally rounded (or cordate), tip acute, lower surface hairy, upper surface scabrous
Flower ± 5 cm diam; perianth ± fleshy, hairy; inner sterile stamens shaggy-hairy
Fruit: hollow receptacle ovoid; outer surface with distinctive scars of perianth parts; included achenes many, ± velvety, margins granular
Chromosomes: n=11
Ecology: Moist, shady places, canyons, streamsides
Elevation: generally < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Outer North Coast Ranges, Inner North Coast Ranges, s Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada Foothills, c&s High Sierra Nevada, apparently naturalized in n Peninsular Ranges (Palomar Mtns)
Horticultural information: 4, 5, 6, 17 &IRR: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24 &part SHD: 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21.