Philadelphus lewisii 1881132 225515569 2008-07-14T02:36:34Z 216.201.64.150 {{Taxobox | name = Lewis's Mock-orange | image = Philadelphus shrub.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Cornales]] | familia = [[Hydrangeaceae]] | genus = ''[[Mock-orange|Philadelphus]]'' | species = '''''P. lewisii''''' | binomial = ''Philadelphus lewisii'' | binomial_authority = [[Frederick Traugott Pursh|Pursh]] }} '''''Philadelphus lewisii''''' ('''Lewis's Mock-orange''') is a [[deciduous]] [[shrub]] native to western [[North America]], from northwestern [[California]] in the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], north to southern [[British Columbia]], and east to [[Idaho]] and [[Montana]]. It is widespread but not terribly common, usually appearing as an individual plant amongst other species. It was discovered by [[Meriwether Lewis]] in 1804. [[Image:Philadelphus lewisii.jpg|left|thumb|''Philadelphus lewisii'' flowers]] The shrub is rounded and grows to 1.5-3 m in height. It sends out long stems which are red when new and fade to gray with age, the bark shredding in small flakes. The opposite leaves vary in size across individual plants but they are usually oval, 3-5 cm long, smooth or serrated along the edges, and light green in color with a rough texture. The [[flower]]s are produced in clusters at the ends of long stems, with four white petals 5-40 mm long and numerous yellow [[stamen]]s. At the height of flowering, the plant is covered in a mass of blossoms. The flowers have a heavy, sweet scent similar to [[orange (fruit)|orange blossoms]] with a hint of [[pineapple]]. The [[fruit]] is a small hard [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] 1 cm long with woody, pointed wings, containing many brown 2.5-3 mm long seeds. Native American tribes used ''P. lewisii'' for numerous purposes. The hard wood was useful for making hunting and fishing tools, snowshoes, pipes, and furniture. The leaves and bark, which contain [[saponin]]s, were mixed in water for use as a mild soap. Other names include "wild mock-orange" (though this can apply to any species in the genus), and "Syringa", a confusing name as it usually refers to the unrelated [[lilac]]s. ===Cultivation=== Lewis's Mock-orange prefers full sun to partial sun. It is drought-tolerant and will grow in poor soils, and provides a landscape with flashy flowers and a fruity scent. Syringa is the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Idaho]]. ==External links== {{commons|Philadelphus lewisii|Philadelphus lewisii}} *[http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Philadelphus+lewisii Plants of British Columbia: ''Philadelphus lewisii''] *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Philadelphus+lewisii Jepson Flora: ''Philadelphus lewisii''] *[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHLE4 USDA Plants Profile: ''Philadelphus lewisii''] *[http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=670450002.K Idaho Statutes: State Flower] *[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Philadelphus+lewisii Ethnobotany of ''P. lewisii''] ==References== Casebeer, M. (2004). ''Discover California Shrubs''. Sonora, California: Hooker Press. ISBN 0-9665463-1-8 [[Category:Cornales]] [[Category:Flora of Idaho]] [[Category:Flora of California]] [[Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States]] [[Category:Flora of Oregon]]