# Firmiana simplex
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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Chinese parasol tree
|image = Firmiana simplex3.jpg
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = [{{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}}]
|genus = Firmiana
|species = simplex
|authority = ([L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)) [W.Wight](/source/W.Wight)[{{eol|584813}}]
|synonyms =
*''Hibiscus collinus'' [Roxb.](/source/Roxb.)
*''Hibiscus simplex'' [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
*''Firmiana platanifolia'' [R.Br.](/source/Robert_Brown_(botanist%2C_born_1773))
*''Sterculia platanifolia'' L.f.
*''Sterculia simplex'' ([L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)) Druce
*''Sterculia urens'' [Roxb.](/source/Roxb.)
}}
[[File:Firmiana simplex MHNT.BOT.2010.4.3.jpg|thumb|''Firmiana simplex'' – [MHNT](/source/MHNT)]]
'''''Firmiana simplex''''', commonly known as the '''Chinese parasol tree''', or '''wutong''' ({{zh|c=梧桐|p=wútóng}}; [jap.:](/source/Japanese_writing_system) godō), is a tree in the family [Malvaceae](/source/Malvaceae), formerly in the family [Sterculiaceae](/source/Sterculiaceae), in the order [Malvales](/source/Malvales), and native to Asia. It grows up to {{convert|16|m|abbr=on}} tall.[{{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}}]
==Description==
It has alternate, [deciduous](/source/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.[{{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 }}]
==Uses==
Due to its sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the ''[guqin](/source/guqin)'' and ''[guzheng](/source/guzheng)''.{{cn|date=July 2025}}
The roasted seeds have reportedly been used to make into a tea.[{{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}}]
The [Taivoan people](/source/Taivoan_people) in the [Nanzixian River](/source/Nanzixian_River) basin of [Taiwan](/source/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.[{{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}}]
==Invasive species==
It is grown as an [ornamental tree](/source/ornamental_plant) in warm regions of [North America](/source/North_America); it has become an aggressive, invasive weed in the region.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.siebenthalercreative.com/acc/chineseparasol/|title = Controlling the Invasive Chinese Parasol Tree in St. Francisville, Louisiana and West Feliciana Parish}}] 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.[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.]
==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](/source/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
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Firmiana simplex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmiana_simplex) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmiana_simplex?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.