Description
- Habit: Native to Japan. Grows in warmer areas
- Shape: Rounded Shape
- Exposure: Partial shade is best but full sun can also be tolerated
- Water Needs: Needs weekly watering
- Soil Type: Moist, well drained, organic, acidic soil
- Height: Around 6-8 feet tall
- Growth Rate: Slow growth rate
- Longevity: Moderate. Around 5-20 years
- Leaves: Glossy green and around 1.5-3.5 inches long
- Flowers: Blooms in March and April. Small white or pink urn shaped flowers usually small.
- Fruit: Small, rounded capsules but are considered to be undesirable.
- Bark: Gray brown bark with light vertical fissures. Usually unseen because of dense foliage.
Ethnobotany
The Pieris japonica hasn't been used by humans that much in either the past or present. The Andromeda is a beautiful plant that is used mostly for landscape and making the scenery more pleasing to the eye. It is mostly a garden tree or something you would plant to enhance the look of your home or building. It does have a couple uses however. The plant can be used as a pesticide and a parasiticide, so it is good to keep away unwanted pests. The flowers on the tree also have a pleasant scent to them so it can also be used in landscape again to better the smell of your garden. Other than that the Pieris japonica isn't really used by humans and is mostly just for decoration.
The Pieris japonica hasn't been used by humans that much in either the past or present. The Andromeda is a beautiful plant that is used mostly for landscape and making the scenery more pleasing to the eye. It is mostly a garden tree or something you would plant to enhance the look of your home or building. It does have a couple uses however. The plant can be used as a pesticide and a parasiticide, so it is good to keep away unwanted pests. The flowers on the tree also have a pleasant scent to them so it can also be used in landscape again to better the smell of your garden. Other than that the Pieris japonica isn't really used by humans and is mostly just for decoration.
Current Research
Recently scientists studied some of the potential mechanisms of resistance in selected Pieris taxa to the Andromeda lace bug. This study was based on the differences in resistance to lace bug feeding, and the possible role of leaf parameters such as leaf wax, toughness, nutrient composition and stomata. After some experiments the leaf wax had no resistance to lace bug feeding. Leaf penetrometer measurements indicated that significantly higher fore was required to puncture phiuyreifolia leaves, which also had higher fiber, lignin, and cellulose and lower leaf moisture contents. Pieris taxa revealed significant differences in the number and size of stomata. Pieris Japonica leaves had the fewest and largest stomata. The type of resistance from the leaves may be described as antixenosis combined with antibiosis, because reduced adult survival and reproduction were observed on the taxa resistant to lace bug feeding.
In another study done scientists examined the distributions of understory plant species and their nitrate use traits, and compared the results with the soil traits. the results showed that boundaries between different dominant understory species correspond to boundaries between different soil types. The tree Pieris japonica occurs on soil with very low net and gross nitrification rates. Dominant understory species have species-specific physiological traits in their use of NO-N. Pieris Japonica lacks the capacity to use NO-N as a N source, but other species do. The identity of the major form of available soil N is therefore an environmental factor that influences plant distributions.
Recently scientists studied some of the potential mechanisms of resistance in selected Pieris taxa to the Andromeda lace bug. This study was based on the differences in resistance to lace bug feeding, and the possible role of leaf parameters such as leaf wax, toughness, nutrient composition and stomata. After some experiments the leaf wax had no resistance to lace bug feeding. Leaf penetrometer measurements indicated that significantly higher fore was required to puncture phiuyreifolia leaves, which also had higher fiber, lignin, and cellulose and lower leaf moisture contents. Pieris taxa revealed significant differences in the number and size of stomata. Pieris Japonica leaves had the fewest and largest stomata. The type of resistance from the leaves may be described as antixenosis combined with antibiosis, because reduced adult survival and reproduction were observed on the taxa resistant to lace bug feeding.
In another study done scientists examined the distributions of understory plant species and their nitrate use traits, and compared the results with the soil traits. the results showed that boundaries between different dominant understory species correspond to boundaries between different soil types. The tree Pieris japonica occurs on soil with very low net and gross nitrification rates. Dominant understory species have species-specific physiological traits in their use of NO-N. Pieris Japonica lacks the capacity to use NO-N as a N source, but other species do. The identity of the major form of available soil N is therefore an environmental factor that influences plant distributions.
Creative Writing
From Japan to the USA the beautifully sculpted Andromeda stands gloriously in front of the Health Center. Even though it is short in stature it leaves nothing but amazement after looking at its pleasing appearance. The small rounded blazing pink flowers drape from the branches covering the whole tree like the flowers are its clothes. Its grayish brown bark complements the looks of the flowers nicely even though hard to see hence all the flowers. It is grown in a way that impresses all that even glance at it with a stature so majestic.
From Japan to the USA the beautifully sculpted Andromeda stands gloriously in front of the Health Center. Even though it is short in stature it leaves nothing but amazement after looking at its pleasing appearance. The small rounded blazing pink flowers drape from the branches covering the whole tree like the flowers are its clothes. Its grayish brown bark complements the looks of the flowers nicely even though hard to see hence all the flowers. It is grown in a way that impresses all that even glance at it with a stature so majestic.
References
Koyama Lina (Jan 2013). Plant & Soil. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=5&sid=2aeb279f-5e1e-4737-a812-c664062658c3%40sessionmgr13&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=84486391
Klein Michael (Oct 2013). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=2aeb279f-5e1e-4737-a812-c664062658c3%40sessionmgr13&vid=6&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edo&AN=91268723
Yan-Ping Li (7/31/13). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=2aeb279f-5e1e-4737-a812-c664062658c3%40sessionmgr13&vid=10&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edo&AN=89801578
"Victoria Gardens: Jul 3, 2010." Victoria Gardens: Jul 3, 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.