   References: "Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia' (Aucuba)." Kirman Contemporary Space Design. Kirman, 27 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.kirmandesign.com/plants/.asp>. "Aucuba japonica - Gold Dust Aucuba - Cornaceae." Aucuba japonica - Gold Dust Aucuba - Cornaceae. Cal Lemke, 23 Jan. 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week511.shtml>. "Do I need a male shrub to get berries? -." Do I need a male shrub to get berries? -. Kim Fisher, 23 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/shrubs/2002041742017501.html>. "Japanese laurel, Aucuba japonica." Botany Boy. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://botanyboy.org/japanese-laurel-aucuba-japonica/>. Takahashi, M. (1995). Exine development in Aucuba japonica Thunberg (Cornaceae). Review Of Palaeobotany And Palynology, 85(3-4), 199-205. Ali, M., & Kikuzawa, K. (2005). Anisophylly in Aucuba japonica (Cornaceae): An outcome of spatial crowding in the bud. Canadian Journal Of Botany, 83(2), 143-154. doi:10.1139/B04-157 Takeshita, Y., Muller, O., & Yamada, T. (2009). Habitat niche specialization in an understory species in a warm temperate forest. Ecological Research, 24(2), 467-475. doi:10.1007/s11284-008-0523-z | Gold Dust Plant Tree #196: Tree Guide: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zFDBt15oTJO4.kQSKLJkNTJMo Scientific Name: Aucuba japonica Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: Angiosperm Natural Habitat: Native to East Asia, China, Japan. The Gold Dust Plant flourishes in the woods in lowland and mountains all over Japan. It grows in rich forest soils of moist valleys, dense forests, thickets, by streams and near shaded moist rocks in China. Leaf Pattern: The aucuba has leathery dark green leaves 3 to 8 inches long either entirely or coarsely toothed. Leaves are opposite, broad-lanceolate. This means they grow opposite of each other. The leaf colors are dark green with golden yellow variegation. Germination Process: The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months or more at 20°c. Individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The plant is not self-fertile. It uses the wind to cross pollinate. Type of Seed/Flower: The males will have four small yellow stamens arranged in a circle around the flower’s center, while the females will have one central green pistil. The flowers are small, 4–8 mm diameter, with four purplish-brown petals; they are produced in clusters of 10-30 in a loose cyme. The fruit is a red berry approximately 1 cm in diameter, which is avoided by birds. Pollination and Spreading: The gold dust plant is monoecious, meaning that there are male and female flowers on the same plant, or hermaphroditic, meaning that the flowers have both male and female parts. This means that berries are produced by every plant even if it is planted in isolation. However, some shrubs are dioecious, meaning that there are separate female and male plants. The female plants produce berries, but only if they are fertilized by pollen from a male plant. A single male plant is enough to pollinate several females nearby. Fellow Animals and Plants in Habitat: The berries the gold dust plant produces are poisons and are not eaten by animals. The gold dust plant is known to be deer resistant. Type of Bark: The gold dust plant has thick green stems that disperses in every direction. Ethnobotany: Gold dust plants were originally used or medical purposes by the Japanese but are now used a decorative shrubbery. Current Research on Tree: Takamatsu journal Exine development in Aucuba japonica Thunberg written in 1995, is about the exine structure and the role it plays in the developmental process of Aucuba japonica. The study found that plants with a higher heterogeneous electron density within the callose wall grew a thicker foot layer during the developmental process. The journal Anisophylly in Aucuba japonica Thunb, analyses the outcome of spatial crowding in the bud. The research found that this occurs exclusively in axillary buds on shoots of individuals that have reached reproductive maturity. Onno Muller’s journal focused on habitat niche specialization of the Aucuba japonica in warm temperate forests. He found that as long as the light condition favored the plant it would grow in a healthy manner. The more light the plant was exposed to the worse off it was, the less light the plant was exposed to the healthier it was. |
Essay:
The aucuba japonica has many names, the spotted laurel, the Japanese laurel, the Japanese aucuba and the gold dust plant. This plant has many names but takes one common form. The relatively large shrub has dark green leaves splashed with golden speckles. Although the leaves take the color of the sun they do not actually need the sun to survive. The plant shines in the dark and inhabits the dullest landscapes with its flush green and yellow foliage. The gold dust plant is valued for its unique ability to survive in harsh lightless conditions with little or no light. The golden spattered leaves of the aucuba are three to five inches long and are considered broad lanceolate. This means that the leaves are long and wide in the middle. The leaves take the shape of a lance and come to a fine point at the tip. The female plant of the aucuba japonica produce attractive red berries that flourish all winter long. The berries from flowers and are a bright green color until they reach maturity turning into the crimson red color mentioned earlier. The flowers of the aucuba japonica form in small clusters and usually grow with four petals but sometimes sprout a fifth. Each petal emits a maroon color with a green center and a faded white outer lining. Although they are small, they are quite a sight to see up close.
The aucuba japonica has many names, the spotted laurel, the Japanese laurel, the Japanese aucuba and the gold dust plant. This plant has many names but takes one common form. The relatively large shrub has dark green leaves splashed with golden speckles. Although the leaves take the color of the sun they do not actually need the sun to survive. The plant shines in the dark and inhabits the dullest landscapes with its flush green and yellow foliage. The gold dust plant is valued for its unique ability to survive in harsh lightless conditions with little or no light. The golden spattered leaves of the aucuba are three to five inches long and are considered broad lanceolate. This means that the leaves are long and wide in the middle. The leaves take the shape of a lance and come to a fine point at the tip. The female plant of the aucuba japonica produce attractive red berries that flourish all winter long. The berries from flowers and are a bright green color until they reach maturity turning into the crimson red color mentioned earlier. The flowers of the aucuba japonica form in small clusters and usually grow with four petals but sometimes sprout a fifth. Each petal emits a maroon color with a green center and a faded white outer lining. Although they are small, they are quite a sight to see up close.
