persica – from Latin persicus for Persian

In Farsi, called انجیلی (enjili)

Native range: Northern Iran, Caucasus of Georgia & Turkey

Leaves:

• alternate
• elliptic to ovate
• wavy-edged
• crenate (upper half of leaf)
• 3–5 in. long
• widely spaced veins
• blade asymmetric
• base often oblique

Flowers:

• apetalous, with bracts
• 5–7 stamens, red
• 2 styles
• appear in late winter on bare branches
• inconspicuous flowers

Fruit:

• 2-celled woody capsule
• ~persistent

Other characteristics:

• deciduous tree
• low branching
• multi-stemmed (trunk forks into many branches near ground)
• small (15–30 ft.)
• exfoliating bark reveals silver, green, white & cinnamon colors
• fall colors include yellow, orange & purplish-red
• velvety buds

Ecology & Adaptations:

• native to the area south and southwest of the Caspian Sea in N. Iran, Caucasus of Georgia & Turkey
• endemic to the Alborz Mountains (N. Iran)
• found in mixed and pure stands in moist deciduous forests at elevations ranging from 150 to 700 m.
• predicted warming temperatures and increased precipitation for northern Iran could have a negative effect on its limited distribution
• root-area ratio and tensile strength of smaller roots of this species made it a candidate for bioengineering efforts enhance slope stability in the mountains but sparce crown makes it ineffective for that purpose
• primarily wind pollinated (vs. close relative Hamamelis, which is older in evolutionary terms and is insect pollinated)
  • apetalous and has large, elongated anthers common to wind-pollinated species
• vegetative regeneration:
  • sprouts from base
  • resprouts following browsing
• anti-bacterial protection provided by tannin and saponin produced in the leaves