Bretschneidera sinensis

Bretschneidera sinensis is in the Akaniaceae family. It is the sole species in the genus and is a quite rare tree with large flowers and growing 10–20 metres tall.

It is found in south and east of China, Taiwan, northern Thailand and northern Vietnam, and recently also has been discovered in Taiwan and Thailand.

• Leaves are deciduous, alternate, imparipinnate (no leaf on the tip), green above and glaucous-green below, 25–75 cm long, with 7–15 leaflets which are elliptic to oblong, 6–26 cm long and 3–9 cm across, leathery or papery, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate; petiole is 10–25 cm long, swollen at base.
• Flowers are terminal, erect, in racemes 20–36 cm long; individual flowers are hermaphrodite, 3–5 cm across; with the calyx large and cupular, 3.2 cm diameter, 5 white to pink petals with longitudinal pink or red streaks; flowering is from March to September.
• Fruit is a 3–5.5 long and 2–3.5 cm across capsule, warty and ellipsoidal to globose; seeds are red, 1.5–2.5 cm long and 1.2–1.8 cm across. Fruit develops from August to April in China.