Melliodendron xylocarpum

The Chinese parasol tree is in the styrax or Styracaceae family along with snowbell (Styrax japonicus) and silver bell (Halesia carolina). It is native to China, developing into a small tree up to 10 m in height.

• Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate-elliptic, up to 15–21 cm long and 8–10 cm across when mature.
• Flowers emerge from pink heads up to 1.5 cm long, blossoming into pinkish-white flowers in clusters of 2 or 3 on individual stems up to 2 cm long.
• Fruit forms by mid July and is a green capsule 4–7 cm long, narrow at the base and cylindrical, broadening to almost 2 cm wide towards the tip, then tapering to a blunt point.
• Winter buds are ovate; bark is gray-brown, often exfoliating.