{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |name = Chinese parasol tree |image = Firmiana simplex3.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author1=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |year=2019 |title=''Firmiana simplex'' |article-number=e.T144249801A149020331 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T144249801A149020331.en |access-date=31 January 2026}}</ref> |genus = Firmiana |species = simplex |authority = (L.) W.Wight<ref>{{eol|584813}}</ref> |synonyms = *''Hibiscus collinus'' <small>Roxb.</small> *''Hibiscus simplex'' <small>L.</small> *''Firmiana platanifolia'' <small>R.Br.</small> *''Sterculia platanifolia'' <small>L.f.</small> *''Sterculia simplex'' <small>(L.) Druce</small> *''Sterculia urens'' <small>Roxb.</small> }} [[File:Firmiana simplex MHNT.BOT.2010.4.3.jpg|thumb|''Firmiana simplex'' – MHNT]]
'''''Firmiana simplex''''', commonly known as the '''Chinese parasol tree''', or '''wutong''' ({{zh|c=梧桐|p=wútóng}}; jap.: godō), is a tree in the family Malvaceae, formerly in the family Sterculiaceae, in the order Malvales, and native to Asia. It grows up to {{convert|16|m|abbr=on}} tall.<ref name=FoC>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242322646 |title=''Firmiana simplex'' |author=Ya Tang, Michael G. Gilbert & Laurence J. Dorr |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA |accessdate=24 March 2013}}</ref>
==Description== It has alternate, deciduous leaves {{cvt|15|–|30|cm|in|0}} across, palmately lobed with three or five lobes, and small fragrant, greenish-white flowers borne in large inflorescences. A flowering tree varies in fragrance with weather and time of the day, having a lemony scent with citronella and chocolate tones. The flowers are pollinated by bees.{{cn|date=July 2025}} The seedpod is like a pair of brown ovate leaves with seeds along the edges. Up to five pairs are produced by each flower.<ref>{{cite book | last= Hogan | first= Sean | date= 2004 | title= Flora - The Gardener's Bible | location= Willoughby, New South Wales | publisher= Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd. | page= 605 with photo | isbn= 1-74048-097-X }}</ref>
==Uses== Due to its sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the ''guqin'' and ''guzheng''.{{cn|date=July 2025}}
The roasted seeds have reportedly been used to make into a tea.<ref>{{cite book|last=Little|first=Elbert L.|title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region|publisher=Knopf|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-394-50760-6|page=603}}</ref>
The Taivoan people in the Nanzixian River basin of Taiwan harvest the tough bark of 2–3-year-old trees. After soaking it by the river for about a month, they remove the rotted bark and twist the remaining fibers into ropes. These ropes can be used for making traps or other binding purposes, particularly for constructing wild boar traps. The robust nature of these ropes helps prevent the boars from escaping.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mata Taiwan |title=楠梓仙溪流域大武壠族民族植物：青桐樹 |trans-title=Ethnic Plants of the Taivoan People in the Nanzihxian River Basin: Firmiana simplex |url=https://memory.culture.tw/Home/Detail?Id=731989&IndexCode=Culture_Invisible |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Taiwan Cultural Memory Bank}}</ref>
==Invasive species== It is grown as an ornamental tree in warm regions of North America; it has become an aggressive, invasive weed in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siebenthalercreative.com/acc/chineseparasol/|title = Controlling the Invasive Chinese Parasol Tree in St. Francisville, Louisiana and West Feliciana Parish}}</ref> It is self-fertile, and its seeds spread readily, especially along watercourses, growing rapidly after germination in favorable sites. The seedlings compete effectively with many other species.<ref>Miller, J.H., E.B, Chambliss, N.J. Loewenstein. 2010. A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests. General Technical Report SRS-119. Asheville, NC. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Firmiana simplex}} *[http://www.uah.edu/facilities-and-operations/facilities/grounds/trees/deciduous/157-facilities-operations/2391-grounds-trees-chinese-parasol-tree ''Firmiana simplex''] - The University of Alabama in Huntsville *[http://www.lsu.edu/departments/horticulture/plantmaterials/Plant%20Groups/Deciduous%20Trees/Firmiana%20simplex/ ''Firmiana simplex''] - Louisiana State University * [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Firmiana%20simplex ''Firmiana simplex''] - PlantList Retrieved 20210102
{{Taxonbar|from=Q776705}}
simplex Category:Trees of China Category:Trees of Japan Category:Flora of the Ryukyu Islands Category:Trees of Taiwan Category:Trees of Vietnam Category:Garden plants of Asia Category:Ornamental trees