Misplaced Pages

#947052

37-521: Sierra Madre Wisteria or The Wistaria Vine is a flowering Wisteria vine shown at the annual Wistaria Festival in Sierra Madre, California . The Wistaria Vine in 1990 was declared by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the largest blossoming plant in the world. The Wistaria vine is named after physician Caspar Wistar (1761–1818) by botanist Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859). The general name for

74-408: A few years, as in W. macrostachya (Kentucky wisteria), or nearly twenty, as in W. sinensis . Maturation can be forced by physically abusing the main trunk , root pruning, or drought stress. Wisteria can grow into a mound when unsupported, but is at its best when allowed to clamber up a tree, pergola , wall, or other supporting structure. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) with longer racemes

111-558: A generally average length for the Wisteria family. Several characteristics distinguish American wisteria from its Asian counterparts. It grows only two-thirds as tall, its racemes are half as long (the shortest of the wisteria family), and its bloom time is sometimes shorter than many Asian varieties. Its flowers are scented, and its seed pods are smooth rather than velvety when mature. The butterflies long-tailed skipper , silver-spotted skipper , marine blue , zarucco duskywing and

148-495: Is a woody , deciduous , perennial climbing vine , one of various wisterias of the family Fabaceae . It is native to the wet forests and stream banks of the southeastern United States , with a range stretching from the states of Virginia to Texas (Northeast Texas Piney Woods) and extending southeast through Florida , also north to Iowa , Michigan , and New York . Carl Linnaeus described Wisteria frutescens . Kentucky wisteria, Wisteria frutescens var. macrostachya

185-546: Is a distinctive variety found in the southeastern United States , including its namesake state of Kentucky . It has been classified as a separate species, Wisteria macrostachya (Torr. & A. Gray) Nutt. ex B. L. Rob. & Fernald . American wisteria can grow up to 15 m long over many supports via powerful counterclockwise-twining stems. It produces dense clusters of blue-purple, two-lipped, flowers 2 cm ( 3 ⁄ 4  in) wide on racemes 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long in late spring to early summer. These are

222-516: Is a soil-borne bacterium that occasionally infects wisteria, causing abnormal growths or swellings on the roots or stems. It infects the plant through its Ti plasmid , and then A. tumefaciens integrates a part of its DNA into the chromosome of the host plant's cells. The K-48 strain of the bacterium can be effectively used to prevent infection by the pathogenic strain of crown gall. Root-knot nematodes are parasites known to affect most species of plants, wisteria not being an exception, but wisteria

259-687: Is an aid in identifying the two most common species of wisteria. They can climb as high as 20 m (66 ft) above the ground and spread out 10 m (33 ft) laterally. The world's largest known wisteria is the Sierra Madre Wisteria in Sierra Madre, California , measuring more than 1 acre (0.40 ha) in size and weighing 250 tons. Planted in 1894, it is of the 'Chinese lavender' variety. The leaves are alternate, 15 to 35 cm long, pinnate , with 9 to 19 leaflets. The flowers have drooping racemes that vary in length from species to species. W. frutescens (American wisteria) has

296-486: Is debate over whether the concentration outside of the seeds is sufficient to cause poisoning. Wisteria seeds have caused poisoning in children and pets of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis and other effects. In North America, W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) and W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) are far more popular than other species for their abundance of flowers, clusters of large flowers, variety of flower colors, and fragrance. W. sinensis

333-549: Is in spring (just before or as the leaves open) in some Asian species, and in mid to late summer in the American species. The genus Wisteria was established by Thomas Nuttall in 1818. He based the genus on Wisteria frutescens , previously included in the genus Glycine . Nuttall stated that he named the genus in memory of the American physician and anatomist Caspar Wistar (1761–1818). Both men were living in Philadelphia at

370-629: Is mostly epiphytic , and it grows in relatively flat gray spots that are approximately 2–4  mm . in diameter. These spots are bounded by narrow dark lines, and frequently merge. Phomatospora wistariae is hyaline in appearance and resembles a membrane, it is sessile , it does not have paraphyses , its asci are oblong, and its sporidia are biseriate and have an oblong-elliptical shape. Its perithecia mesaure to about 110–120 μm, its asci 35–45 by 10–12 μm, and its sporidia 12 by 6 μm. Rhizobium radiobacter , previously known as Agrobacterium tumefaciens and commonly as crown gall,

407-491: Is now over a meter in diameter. The lavender flowers have a sweet fragrance. Mrs. Brugman sold the home and the vine to Henry and Estelle Fennell in 1906. The Fennells promoted the vine's growth, building arbors and trellises to keep it off the ground. The vine is on the alluvial plain of the San Gabriel Mountains , with a good water source and drainage. The Fennells let the vine grow onto the house. From 1904 to 1950,

SECTION 10

#1733085517948

444-482: Is present as well. Poisoning from the plant can occur from ingestion of 1 to 2 seed pods and results in mild to severe gastroenteritis , nausea, frequent vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. This can result in dehydration and collapse in serious cases; recovery generally occurs within 24 hours. The concentration of toxins varies in all segments of the plant and varies during different seasons. Wisterin's structure has been shown to be similar in structure and in effects to

481-586: Is susceptible to Texas root rot caused by the fungus Phymatotrichum omnivorum . Texas root rot damages the roots and prevents their absorption of water, resulting in wilting then death. Pantoea agglomerans has been shown to induce galls on Wisteria . Wisteria brachybotrys , Wisteria floribunda , Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria venusta , have been shown to carry Erysiphe cichoracearum , Botryosphaeria , and Phomopsis canker and die-back pathogens, Phyllosticta wisteriae , and Septoria wisteriae . Wisteria vein mosaic virus (a variant of

518-518: Is the best choice to grow along a pergola. W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) with shorter racemes is the best choice for growing along a wall. Whatever the case, the support must be very sturdy, because mature wisteria can become immensely strong with heavy wrist-thick trunks and stems . These can collapse latticework, crush thin wooden posts, and even strangle large trees. Wisteria allowed to grow on houses can cause damage to gutters, downspouts, and similar structures. Wisteria flowers develop in buds near

555-558: The Fuji Musume (or 'The Wisteria Maiden'), is the sole extant dance of a series of five personifying dances in which a maiden becomes the embodiment of the spirit of wisteria. In the West, both in building materials such as tile, as well as stained glass, wisterias have been used both in realism and stylistically in artistic works and industrial design. Wisteria frutescens Wisteria frutescens , commonly known as American wisteria ,

592-565: The Pacific Electric 's Sierra Madre Line street cars bought visitors from around greater Los Angeles to Wistaria Festival. The weight of the vine later destroyed the house, collapsing the roof. A new house was built north of the vine. In 1936, the Fennells sold the house and vine to Carrie Ida Lawless. Lawless built new arbors and trellises to keep the vine off the ground and the house. Lawless died in 1942, and her nephew Bruce McGill inherited

629-437: The tobacco mosaic virus ) and subterranean clover stunt virus are the only two known viruses to infect genus Wisteria , and the potential for Wisteria frutescens to contract any of the previously mentioned diseases is undetermined. All species of Wisteria contain a saponin known as Wisterin in the bark, branches, pods, roots, and seeds. There is debate over whether the flowers are toxic. An unknown and toxic resin

666-578: The Chinese wisteria ( Wisteria sinensis ). The Wistaria Vine currently spans two backyards in Sierra Madre. In addition to the annual tour of The Wistaria Vine, the city hosts an artisan's arts and craft festival. Wistaria Festival also has live music at Sierra Madre Memorial Park , with food trucks. The vine is in bloom for March to mid-April. The Wistaria is on the City of Sierra Madre's Flag designed in 2005 with

703-638: The Portuguese botanist and geologist José Francisco Corrêa da Serra , who lived in Philadelphia beginning in 1812, four years before his appointment as ambassador of Portugal to the United States, and a friend of Wistar, proposed the name "Wistaria" in his obituary of Wistar. As the spelling is apparently deliberate, there is no justification for changing the genus name under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants . The genus

740-594: The San Gabriel Mountains, the 1896 Old North Church and the 1974 Bell Tower in Kersting Court. Wisteria The aquatic flowering plant commonly called wisteria or 'water wisteria' is Hygrophila difformis , in the family Acanthaceae . Wisterias climb by twining their stems around any available support. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) twines clockwise when viewed from above, while W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria) twines counterclockwise. This

777-546: The World Online accepted four species: Wisteria species are used as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the brown-tail moth . The seeds are produced in pods similar to those of Laburnum , and, like the seeds of that genus, are poisonous . All parts of the plant contain a saponin called wisterin, which is toxic if ingested, and may cause dizziness , confusion, speech problems, nausea, vomiting , stomach pains, diarrhea and collapse. There

SECTION 20

#1733085517948

814-421: The alkaloid cytisine , but less potent. It has a bittersweet taste. As with the cytisine-containing Laburnum , its leaves are sometimes taken as a tobacco substitute. Canavanine is a common α-amino-acid constituent found in the seeds of all species of Wisteria . It serves as a defense compound against herbivores and provides a vital source of nitrogen for the growing plant embryo. The toxicity of canavanine

851-444: The bark, which causes raised pustules, some of which are ruptured. Its perithecia are 120–150 μm and are white inside; sporules are oblong, measuring 12–16 by 6–7 μm. Partly dead leaves of Wisteria frutescens have been found to host Phomatospora wistariae Ellis & Everh. This fungus is perithecial , meaning its fruiting body is flask-shaped with an ostiole through which its ascospores are released. It

888-457: The base of the previous year's growth, so pruning back side shoots to the basal few buds in early spring can enhance the visibility of the flowers. If it is desired to control the size of the plant, the side shoots can be shortened to between 20 and 40 cm long in midsummer, and back to 10 to 20 centimetres (3.9 to 7.9 in) in the fall. Once the plant is a few years old, a relatively compact, free-flowering form can be achieved by pruning off

925-494: The centuries and were a popular symbol in mon (family crests) and heraldry. Wisteria is one of the five most commonly used motifs in the mon , and there are more than 150 types of wisteria mon . Because of its longevity and fertility, wisteria was considered an auspicious plant and was favored as a mon , and was adopted and popularized by the Fujiwara clan as their mon . One popular dance in kabuki known as

962-712: The house and vine. McGill worked with the Sierra Madre Garden Club in care of the vine. The original lot was subdivided in 1961, so the vine is now on two adjoining properties. Due to the vine's status, the vine is now maintained by experts from universities and local horticulturists. The Sierra Madre Wisteria is one of the Seven Horticultural Wonders of the World . Sierra Madre is known for its annual Wistaria Festival normally held in March. Wistaria Festival showcases

999-1007: The longest racemes of wisteria species, is decorative and has given rise to many cultivars that have won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit . Wisteria, especially W. sinensis (Chinese wisteria), is very hardy and fast-growing. It can grow in fairly poor-quality soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It thrives in full sun. It can be propagated via hardwood cutting, softwood cuttings, or seed. However, specimens grown from seed can take decades to bloom; for this reason, gardeners usually grow plants that have been started from rooted cuttings or grafted cultivars known to flower well. Another reason for failure to bloom can be excessive fertilizer (particularly nitrogen ). Wisteria has nitrogen fixing capability (provided by Rhizobia bacteria in root nodules), and thus mature plants may benefit from added potassium and phosphate , but not nitrogen. Finally, wisteria can be reluctant to bloom before it has reached maturity. Maturation may require only

1036-469: The moth Cuphodes wisteriae use Wisteria frutescens as a larval host. Wisteria frutescens , in general, is subject to few pests or diseases. It is, however, subject to damage by typical pests like aphids, leaf miners, Japanese beetles, scale insects, and mealybugs. Pests of particular concern are longhorn beetles , such as Synaphaeta guexi , and the Asian long-horned beetle . These beetles will bore into

1073-778: The new tendrils three times during the growing season in the summer months. The flowers of some varieties are edible, and can even be used to make wine. Others are said to be toxic. Careful identification by an expert is strongly recommended before consuming this or any wild plant. In the United Kingdom, the national collection of wisteria is held by Chris Lane at the Witch Hazel Nursery in Newington , near Sittingbourne in Kent . Wisteria and their racemes have been widely used in Japan throughout

1110-550: The plant is spelled Wisteria. This single wisteria vine covers over an acre. The Wistaria Vine has over 1.5 million blossoms and weighs over 250 tons. The plant is on private land and open to the public once a year during the Wistaria Festival. The vine was planted in 1894 by Mrs. William (Alice) Brugman. Brugman purchased the vine from the old Wilson nursery, in Monrovia , for seventy-five cents in 1-gallon bucket. The vine's trunk

1147-553: The pods are fuzzy and greenish-tan when young, but shiny brown and smooth when dry. The seeds are large and brown (see image). American wisteria prefers moist soils. It is considered shade tolerant, but will flower only when exposed to partial or full sun. It grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 5–9. In the wild, they can be found in woods, thickets, and streambanks. Kentucky wisteria bears slightly scented bluish - purple to white flowers in racemes 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long,

Sierra Madre Wistaria - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-616: The shortest racemes, 5–7 centimetres (2.0–2.8 in). W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria) has the longest racemes, 90 centimetres (35 in) in some varieties and 120 centimetres (47 in) or 200 centimetres (79 in) in some cultivars . The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, lilac, purple, and pink, and some W. brachybotrys (Silky wisteria) and W. floribunda cultivars have particularly remarkable colors. The flowers are fragrant, and especially cultivars of W. brachybotrys , W. floribunda , and W. sinensis are noted for their sweet and musky scents. Flowering

1221-649: The smallest racemes produced by any Wisteria . Though it has never been favored in many gardens for this characteristic, many bonsai artists employ American wisteria for its manageably-sized flowers , and it is charming as a woodland flowering vine. The foliage consists of shiny, dark-green, pinnately compound leaves 10–30 cm (4–12 in) in length. The leaves bear 9–15 oblong leaflets that are each 2–6 cm ( 3 ⁄ 4 – 2 + 1 ⁄ 4  in) long. It also bears numerous poisonous , bean -like seed pods 5–10 cm (2– 3 + 7 ⁄ 8  in) long that mature in summer and persist until winter;

1258-604: The time, where Wistar was a professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania . Questioned about the spelling later, Nuttall said it was for " euphony ", but his biographer speculated that it may have something to do with Nuttall's friend Charles Jones Wister Sr., of Grumblethorpe , the grandson of the merchant John Wister . Various sources assert that the naming occurred in Philadelphia . It has been suggested that

1295-512: The woody stems of young or unhealthy wisteria, causing disruption of water and nutrient flow. This also allows for the potential to introduce disease, like rot, and both of these have the potential to cause death of the plant. A fungus, Aplosporella wistariae Ellis & Barthol. , has been found on some cultivars of wisteria in Louisville, Kansas . Its stromata are elliptical or orbicular, are 1–2 mm in diameter, and are sunk into

1332-480: Was brought to the United States for horticultural purposes in 1816, while W. floribunda was introduced around 1830. Because of their hardiness and tendency to escape cultivation , these non-native wisterias are considered invasive species in many parts of the U.S. , especially the Southeast , due to their ability to overtake and choke out other native plant species. W. floribunda (Japanese wisteria), which has

1369-471: Was previously placed in the tribe Millettieae . Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2000 onwards showed that Wisteria , along with other genera such as Callerya and Afgekia , were related and quite distinct from other members of the Millettieae. A more detailed study in 2019 reached the same conclusion, and moved Wisteria to the expanded tribe Wisterieae . As of September 2023 , Plants of

#947052