The Main Plant entry for Abelias (Vesalea)

The generic name of Abelia was given in honor of a certain Dr. Clarke Abel who was a physician and naturalist who collected seed and plants as part of a British expedition to China in 1827. About 30 species and hybrids native to East Asia and Mexico have been included in this genus, included in the Caprifoliaceae, the Honeysuckle Family. In 2013 it was proposed after some molecular phylogenic studies that Abelia and some similar genera be included into the genus of Linnaea. Normally in the taxonomy of plants I am a "lumper" and not a "splitter;" however, I and a number of other horticulturists just won't be agreeing with this change. I'm sure the nursery plant catalogues will continue to be written with the word Abelia as to the scientific name. I do wonder what the Chinese name would be for this, as that might be best.

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"Abelia is a genus of about 15-30 species and many hybrids in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. Some authors, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, consider Abelia and related genera to belong instead in the segregate family Linnaeaceae, also including such genera as Linnaea, Abelia, Dipelta, Kolkwitzia, and Zabelia, but not such others as Lonicera or Symphoricarpos, included by them instead in a more narrowly viewed Caprifoliaceae.

Abelias are popular garden shrubs. The most widely grown is the hybrid Abelia x grandiflora (Glossy Abelia; hybrid Abelia chinensis x Abelia uniflora). This is a rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with gracefully arching branches to 1-1.8 m tall, with ovate, glossy, dark green semi-evergreen leaves to 2–6 cm long, and clusters of white-tinged-pink, bell-shaped flowers to 2 cm long.

Abelia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Abelia), and also serve as a nectar source for some insects."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

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