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Re: Michelia alba




Damian Trownson wrote:

> Peter,
>         Just a casual comment, could your Michelia alba be Michelia doltsopa?,
>         Regards,
>                 Paul,N.Z.

  Hi Damian,

I just happen to have a M. doltsopa growing a few feet away from the M. alba :)
Comparing the two:

The M. doltsopa has dark green, narrower, leathery leaves. Its flowers are larger
(5" or more), with about 15 petals which are 3/4" wide. Regrettably, it only
blooms in late winter. My specimen looks stiff and upright.

The M. alba has weeping branches. The leaves are broader, apple green, soft and
luxuriant. They have a spicy, pleasant fragrance when crushed. The flowers are
smaller (3-4"), with only about 10 petals, each little more than 1/4" wide. It is
sometimes called champaca (though it is *not* the same as M. champaca), cham pak,
or pak-lan. It blooms throughout the warmer part of the year, which can be 8-9
months here in Southern California.

Supposedly, both M. doltsopa and M. alba are not easy to propagate:(

Best regards,

peter



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