Philadelphus lewisii - Mock-orange

Philadelphus lewisii (5192115899)
(Wikimedia)1
Philadelphus lewisii 01
(Wikimedia)2
Philadelphus lewisii var. californicus JRVdH 01
Philadelphus lewisii var. californicus
(Wikimedia)3

Description

General: Deciduous shrub, erect, loosely branched, 1.5-3 m tall; bark reddish-brown, turning grey and flaking off in patches; twigs glabrous to hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
Leaves: Opposite, short-stalked, widely egg-shaped to rounded, 3-5 cm long, margins entire to toothed, flat with 3 major veins from the leaf base, slightly sand-papery to touch." [IFBC-E-flora]
Flowers: Inflorescence of 3-15 flowers in a raceme; petals 4, white, 5-20 mm long, oblong; calyces top-shaped or bell-shaped, 4-6 mm long, 4-lobed, the lobes egg-shaped, 5-6 mm long; stamens yellow, numerous, unequal." [IFBC-E-flora]
Fruits: Capsules, 4-chambered, woody, 1 cm long; seeds many, spindle-shaped, brown, 2.5-3 mm long." [IFBC-E-flora]

Habitat/Range: "Moist to dry talus slopes, shrublands, streamsides and open forests in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent in S BC; E to SW AB and S to MT, ID and N CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Ecological Indicator Information

"A shade-intolerant. submontane to subalpine, North American deciduous shrub distributed more in the Cordilleran than the Pacific region. Occurs in continental cool temperate and cool semiarid climates on moderately dry to fresh, nitrogen-medium soils; its occurrence increases with increasing temperature and continentality and decreases with increasing elevation. Scattered in open-canopy Douglas-fir forests; in the coast-interior ecotone more frequent on water-shedding sites than water-receiving sites. Characteristic of dry continental forests." [IPBC-E-flora]

Hazards

"The plant is otherwise {other than its wood and cleaning use} considered poisonous." [Vizgirdas WPSN]

Other Uses

Saponins

The leaves and flowers are rich in saponins, when crushed and mixed with water they produce a lather that is an effective cleaner, used on the body, clothes etc (99, 169, 257). [PFAF] You can wash your hands by merely picking a couple of leaves or a bunch of blossom, wetting your hands and then rubbing the plant material vigorously as if it was a bar of soap(K). [PFAF] This soap is a very gentle cleaner that does not remove the body's natural oils, but does remove dirt. It is not very effective against oil (K). An infusion of the bark can also be used(99, 169). [PFAF] "The leaves and flowers foam into lather when bruised and rubbed with hands and can be used for cleaning the skin." [Vizgirdas WPSN]

Baketry

The stems can be used in making fine coiled baskets(257). [PFAF]

Wood

Strong, very hard. Used for tool handles (99). [PFAF] "The wood of mock orange is strong and hard and does not crack or warp. It is an excellent wood for making bows and arrows." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
Used to make "Combs, arrows, knitting needles, bows, gambling disks, sweat lodge frames". [APAK Turner] "Bushes trimmed to produce long, straight shoots for arrows and mat needles". [APAK Turner]

Fragrance

"Several commercial cultivars of Lewis mock orange have been developed. The flowers are used in preparing perfumes and teas (Taylor 1972)." (Francis, 2004)

Phenological indicator

"Blooming of mock-orange indicates that it is time to hunt marmots". [APAK Turner]

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic used externally, breast treatment, cathartic, dermatological aid, hemorrhoidremedy, pulmonary aid (Heaton, 2004)

Leaves & Wood

The dried powdered leaves, or the powdered wood, has been mixed with pitch or oil and used as a rub on sores and swollen joints (257). [PFAF]

Leaves

A poultice of the bruised leaves has been used to treat infected breasts(257). [PFAF]

Branches

A strained decoction of the branches, sometimes with the flowers, has been used as a soaking solution in the treatment of   sore chests, eczema and bleeding haemorrhoids(257). [PFAF]

Pharmacology

"Of the 30 extracts which were active against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, only the extracts of Moneses uniflora and Philadelphus lewisii gave zones of inhibition comparable to that of Nystatin. (Mccutcheon 1994)

Wildlife Habitat

"Mockorange is browsed by deer and elk and the seed is eaten by quail and squirrels (Helliwell 1987)." [PPNWNP]

"Lewis mock orange is usually not grazed heavily by livestock, but in some areas it does receive fair amounts of use by cattle (Bos spp. L.) and sheep (Ovis spp. L.) (Leege 1968, USDA Forest Service 1937). It frequently occurs with other species that are more palatable to big game, and consequently, it may receive little use, except under severe conditions. However, it can provide good browse for deer (Odocoileus spp. Rafinesque) and elk (Cervus canadensis Erxleben), especially on winter ranges (Kufeld 1973, Leege 1968, Marchant and Sherlock 1984, USDA Forest Service 1937). New growth is generally highly palatable to big game (Leege 1968). The species provides food and cover for birds and other small animals." (Francis, 2004)

Cultivation & Propagation

"The fruit matures in late summer. Extract seeds by gently crushing the dried capsules and passing them through an aspirator. Stratify at 5°C for eight weeks followed by 22-26°C (Stickney 1974)." [PPNWNP]

"Take softwood cuttings in June and July, dip in 1000 ppm IBA solution, stick in a peat:perlite (1:1) medium, and mist. Collect hardwood cuttings in fall or spring to a length of 20 cm. Treat with a 2500-8000 ppm IBA solution and insert 15 cm deep into a sandy soil. Fall plantings should be mulched (Dirr and Heuser 1987)." [PPNWNP]

"Very susceptible to death and injury" from flooding [Thomas Trees]

"The species is classified as fire resistant because it resprouts from the root crown following burning. It also regenerates from seeds that accumulate in the soil seed bank (Kramer and Johnson 1987). Lewis mock orange exhibits moderate drought and shade tolerance." (Francis, 2004)

PHILADELPHUS - MOCK ORANGE

"Shrub < 3 m. Stem: bark red-brown, aging gray, peeling as narrow rectangles or strips; twigs glabrous to hairy. Leaf: deciduous, petioled; blade 3-veined from base, +/- glabrous to hairy, margin entire to toothed. Inflorescence: flower 1, or raceme to panicle, terminal, +/- open. Flower: fragrant; sepals 4–5, glabrous to hairy; petals 4–5, white; stamens generally many, clustered, filaments linear, fused at base; ovary 1/2 to completely inferior, chambers 4–5, placentas axile, ovules many, style 1, branches generally 4, stigmas linear along style branches. Fruit: becoming woody, generally loculicidal. Seed: many, generally fusiform, generally brown."
"+/- 65 species: temperate America, Eurasia. (Greek: for Ptolemy   Philadelphus, Greek king of Egypt, 309–247 BC) [Frazier 1999 New Mexico   Botanist 13:1–6] Many intergrading infraspecific taxa described; more study needed to determine which warrant recognition." [Jespon]

"A genus of 65 (or fewer) species, shrubs, of north temperate areas. The most recent monographer of the genus, Hu (1954-1955) recognizes many species and varieties on the basis of minor differences in pubescence. Many of the recognized taxa are based only on cultivated material. The native distributions of the varieties have little phytogeographic coherence, and several varieties are often reported from the same site, suggesting that they reflect merely variation within a population (if genetically based at all). For instance, Hu recognizes three varieties in P. hirsutus and five in P. inodorus, but these seem to be no more than forms. As Hu writes, "the formerly recognized species, P. grandiflorus Willd., and P. laxus Schrad., are merely different forms of a species with heterogeneous leaf shape, size, and margins. Fostered by growers, propagated and distributed through cuttings, these forms have maintained their distinction in gardens since their discoveries. But when they are projected on the spectrum of variations exhibited by a large number of specimens collected from the homeland of P. inodorus Linn. they appear to be nothing but a few transitional forms. In this paper, these forms are treated as varieties." Hu's "varieties" should be treated as forms or cultivars, if recognized at all. I have taken a conservative approach, though variation in several of our native species could use additional study." [Weakley FSMAS]

Local Species

1. Philadelphus lewisii - mock-orange [E-flora]

Non-Local Species

"Philadelphus coronarius Linnaeus, European Mock-orange. Cultivated (though moreso in the past than now), and sometimes escaped or persisting around old homesites; native of Europe. May-July. P. coronarius is the most commonly cultivated Philadelphus in our area, though it is currently considered rather old-fashioned." [Weakley FSMAS]

"Philadelphus hirsutus Nuttall, Hairy Mock-orange, Cumberland Mock-orange. Bluffs, rock outcrops, rocky woodlands, often with seepage, over mafic or calcareous rocks. April-May; June-August. A Southern Appalachian species: sw. VA and KY south and west to w. NC, TN, n. GA, and n. AL. P. sharpianus Hu, known from e. TN and nc. AR, is similar to P. hirsutus, allegedly differing in the hypanthium glabrous (vs. more or less pubescent), the leaves strigose-pilose above, glabrous or sparsely strigose or with the nerves only villous beneath (vs. scabrous-hirsute above, uniformly villous beneath); it is probably best considered only a form of P. hirsutus. P. hirsutus is cultivated and it may escape outside of the range stated." [Weakley FSMAS]

"Philadelphus inodorus Linnaeus, Appalachian Mock-orange. Rich forests and woodlands, rocky bluffs over mafic or calcareous rocks, and also cultivated and persistent. April-May; June-August. VA and TN south to Panhandle FL (Gadsden, Liberty, and Jackson counties), GA, and s. AL (and according to C, also in e. PA). P. floridus Beadle, known from nw. GA, is similar to P. inodorus, allegedly differing in the pedicels and hypanthium pubescent (vs. glabrous); it is probably only a form of P. inodorus." [Weakley FSMAS]

Philadelphus microphyllus - Mock orange

"Range.—Littleleaf mock orange is distributed from southern California east into southern and central Nevada; most of Utah; southwestern Wyoming; western, central, and southern California; Arizona; New Mexico; central Texas; and central Mexico (Cronquist and others 1997). The species exhibits considerable morphological variability and has been subdivided into a number of species or subspecific taxa by various authors. " (Francis, 2004)

Seeds: "The small seeds were eaten by Native Americans (Cronquist and others 1997)." (Francis, 2004)

Fragrance

"It only takes a few bushes to fill a summer evening with an intense fragrance that moves through the garden like scented waves. The aroma is especially strong in the morning and evening. Not everyone likes mock orange; some find it overwhelming. In fact, it has been called both the most-loved and most-hated fragrance in the garden." [Keville AG]

Tea: "Mock orange flowers are enjoyed as flavorful and aromatic tea." [Keville AG]

Aromatherapy: "The use of mock orange in aromatherapy is not common, but it should be. It can affect the mind much like orange blossoms, as a mental relaxant and antidepressant." [Keville AG]
"Numerous Philadelphus species are native to North America, southern Europe, and south- western Asia. The scent varies greatly among species and not all are fragrant,...." [Keville AG]

"A synthetic reproduction of the fragrance goes into a number of perfumes and colognes. The flowering branches can be cut and the lower leaves stripped off to bring the delightful fragrance in the house." [Keville AG]

Cultivation & Propagation: "Littleleaf mock orange provides good cover for small animals. It is used to some extent by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus Rafinesque) (Patton and Ertl 1982). Although the species receives little use in revegetation, it has potential for planting on disturbances on steep, rocky, unstable slopes within its native range (Stevens and others, in press). Seedlings or larger stock are recommended for such use. The species might also be used to advantage in drier areas of degraded riparian zones. Littleleaf mock orange is an attractive ornamental because of its showy flowers and fall coloration. It was first cultivated in 1883 (Rehder 1940). It can be used in borders, screens, hedges, or as isolated specimens in sunny areas. It can also be used for low maintenance landscaping and in recreational area plantings." (Francis, 2004)

"Philadelphus pubescens Loiseleur, Ozark Mock-orange, Hairy Mock-orange. Limestone bluffs. E. TN, KY, nw. GA (Jones & Coile 1988), AL, MO, OK, and AR, west of the Blue Ridge. It has been documented from TN counties adjacent to both VA and NC, and is likely to be found in VA, at least." [Weakley FSMAS]

Philadelphus tenuifolius

"The native range of this species is Russian Far East to Korea. It is a shrub and grows primarily in the temperate biome." [POWO]

"Cooler summers and milder winters characteristic of a monsoon climate provide favorable conditions for frost intolerant plants (e.g., Abelia koreana, Ar- alia continentalis, Bergenia pacifica, Ilex rugosa, Philadelphus tenuifolius), which reach their northernmost limits in these forests." [DellaSalsa TBRW]

References

Image References