Disanthus is a small genus of flowering plants in the witch-hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, within the order Saxifragales. It was described by Carl Maximowicz in 1866. For over 150 years the genus was considered monotypic, represented only by its type species, Disanthus cercidifolius, a deciduous shrub native to woodland habitats in China and Japan. In 2017 a second species, Disanthus ovatifolius, was formally described from northern Vietnam, expanding the genus to two known species.
The genus name reflects a taxonomic nuance in Latin grammar: the type species' epithet was originally spelled cercidifolia, but because the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants treats the genus name's grammatical gender as masculine, the correct form is cercidifolius. Disanthus ovatifolius has its own notable history in cultivation — it was introduced to horticulture in Europe under the provisional, ultimately invalid name "Uocodendron whartonii," honoring the late Peter Wharton, former curator of the David C. Lam Asian Garden at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden in Vancouver, before subsequent scientific study confirmed its placement within Disanthus.
Etymology
The type species epithet was originally spelled cercidifolia, but the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants treats the genus's grammatical gender as masculine, so the accepted spelling is cercidifolius.
Distribution
Disanthus cercidifolius is native to woodland habitats in China and Japan, while the more recently described Disanthus ovatifolius is found in northern Vietnam.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus was described by Maximowicz in 1866 and placed in Hamamelidaceae (order Saxifragales). It was long treated as monotypic, containing only the type species D. cercidifolius, until D. ovatifolius was described in 2017 as a second species.
History
Disanthus ovatifolius was first introduced to horticulture in Europe under the invalid name "Uocodendron whartonii," honoring the late Peter Wharton, formerly curator of the David C. Lam Asian Garden at UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver, before scientific study assigned it to Disanthus as a new species in 2017.
