The 530-year-old catalpa tree in Wushan Dongyue Temple is in full bloom, and the orange friend "yiyi boat veteran"

橙友"yiyi舟老兵" 攝

Reporter Sun Meng

In recent days, many people in the orange circle have posted to break the news: "The catalpa tree is blooming, go and see it!" ”

There are many flowers in spring, why do catalpa trees bloom like this? Catalpa is native to China and is one of the earliest tree species cultivated and utilized. Since ancient times, catalpa trees have been a valuable tree species. In ancient times, people still had the habit of planting catalpa trees as property to pass on to future generations, and there was a proverb among the folk that "thousand-year-old cypress, vanen cedar, is not as good as a branch of catalpa trees". Emperor Qianlong also regarded the catalpa tree as a "good friend", and once wrote a couplet for it, "the bright moon and the breeze are endlessly hidden, and the ancient cypress is a good friend". For example, the Tang Dynasty poet Han Yu wrote about the grand occasion when the catalpa tree bloomed: "Whoever takes off the green Luo curtain will see the high flowers and thousands of layers." "The green building is covered with purple and the child is a child, and the drizzle and smoke are used as colorful cages. If you don't have a painter to take it, you must know that it is difficult to see in your life. ”

Catalpa tree is a deciduous tree of the Asteraceae family, it has dense branches and leaves, large and beautiful flowers, and has the reputation of "Wood King". Catalpa has a long history, according to research, dating back to the geological time of the Quaternary pre-glacial Eocene, there are catalpa trees in North China and other regions, and it is one of the few ancient living fossil tree species that has been preserved through the changes of China's prehistoric geological and geomorphological structure.

In ancient times, the name of the catalpa tree was called differently in the history books of the past dynasties. The Spring and Autumn "Book of Songs" called the catalpa tree a "chair". "Zuo Biography" records Catalpa as "Hagi". During the Warring States Period, "Mencius" called the catalpa tree "槚". In the Western Han Dynasty, the "Historical Records" began to be called Catalpa. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, "Shuowen" notes the clouds: "槚", catalpa. Song "Pi Ya" is also known as the "wood king". The book also explains: "The chair is the catalpa, and the catalpa is the catalpa." And because of the similarity in appearance between catalpa and catalpa, the ancients often mixed the two. The Book of Han says: "Catalpa is also mistakenly called Zi. ”

在我國許多遊覽勝地和名寺古剎，都可以見到百年以上的古楸樹蒼勁挺拔的風姿。每年4月中下旬楸樹開花，對杭州人來說也意味著暮春已至，就連蘇轼也寫過：“楸樹高花欲插天，暖風遲日共茫然。落英滿地君方見，惆悵春光又一年。”

Catalpa tree flowers bloom, like the glow of the sun, layer upon layer, luxuriant like a waterfall, its flowers are shaped like a bell, the corolla is a light pink-purple, and the petals also have purple-red spots. Where can I see catalpa trees in Hangzhou? The two very famous ancient catalpa trees in the Dongyue Temple in Wushan Scenic Area are more than 210 years old, and the orange friend "Yiyi Boat Veteran" who just went to the day before yesterday posted: "The catalpa tree in the Dongyue Temple of Wushan is in full bloom for 0 years, hurry up and check in." "Near No. 0 Beishan Street, there is also an ancient catalpa tree that is more than 0 years old, and the orange friend" clumsy "clumsy hand" posted, "The wind and rain on the weekend have no effect on it, and in the morning light, the light pink small wind chimes are hanging all over the branches." In addition, ancient catalpa trees can also be seen in the Hangzhou Botanical Garden, which is located on the east side of the office building of the Botanical Garden.

The best flowering period for catalpa trees is generally one week, and under the conditions of high temperatures, catalpa trees do not bloom for long. If you want to enjoy the magnificent sight of the pink blossoms of the trees, you should seize the opportunity to enjoy the flowers these days.