Planted at the back of the Malesian rhododendron bed but most easily viewed opposite the Hawaiian collection is the highly unusual tree Exbucklandia populnea (R. Br.) R. W. Br., which also comes from montane forests of China and Southeast Asia, also Malesia.
The evergreen, broadly ovate leaf is relatively stiff and dark green, with yellowish major veins that all arise from the leaf base. One author has noted that the leaves quiver like quaking aspen, although in the microhabitat of MEMBG we hardly get winds strong enough to see this occur. What makes this plant so easy to identify are the large, appressed stipules, oriented skyward, that hide the bud and developing leaf blade. Our plant has formed a strong central leader six meters tall, but the branches have a zigzag design, because growth of terminal buds is suppressed.
Exbucklandia (two species) is a genus of the witch-hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, which has many of its species in Southeast Asia. Flowers of this plant are a rare treat, and the MEMBG specimen, accessioned in 1977, was blooming in early March. As you can see, however, the flowers are not very showy.
ARTHUR C. GIBSON (Garden Director)