About Rhodoleia championii Hook.
Rhodoleia championii Hook. is a small evergreen tree that reaches approximately 12 meters (40 feet) in height. It has smooth, dark brown bark. Its leathery, glossy green leaves are stalked, shaped oblong or obovate, and measure 7 to 16 cm (2.8 to 6.3 in) long by 4.5 to 10.5 cm (1.8 to 4.1 in) wide. The base of each leaf tapers broadly, and the leaf tip is obtuse or widely acute. The underside of leaves is greyish, usually smooth, and sometimes retains remnants of brown stellate scales. Its scarlet flowers grow on short peduncles in leaf axils; they are pendulous, 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long and 2.5 to 3.5 cm (1.0 to 1.4 in) wide. Each flower has several whorls of rounded bracts, numerous spatulate petals, stamens matching the petals in length, and a slightly shorter style. The fruit produced is a five-chambered capsule that holds flattened, yellowish-brown seeds. This species is native to southeastern Asia, with a range stretching from Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam to China and Indonesia. It grows in both lowland and upland primary and secondary forests. It was first discovered growing in Hong Kong in 1848, and has since been propagated there to boost the number of wild specimens. The flowers of R. championii are primarily pollinated by birds. At a site in China's Guangdong Province Nankunshan National Forest Park, flowers were observed being visited by seven distinct species of nectar-foraging birds, with the most common visitors being Swinhoe's white-eyes (Zosterops simplex) and fork-tailed sunbirds (Aethopyga christinae). Bumblebees and honey bees also visit the flowers to a limited extent. In Dongguan Mt. Yinping Forest Park, Guangdong, China, R. championii is a dominant tree alongside Pinus hwangshanensis, while the main components of the local shrub layer are the grass Miscanthus floridulus and the bamboo Indocalamus tessellatus.
