Sycopsis

Sycopsis
Sycopsis sinensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Subfamily: Hamamelidoideae
Tribe: Fothergilleae
Genus: Sycopsis
Oliv.

Sycopsis is a genus of plants in the family Hamamelidaceae. It includes three species native to central and southern China, Assam, and Taiwan.

Characteristics

Sycopsis are evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs or small trees. Their leaves are leathery and their flowers have no petals.

Species

Three species are accepted.

Etymology and naming

Sycopsis is derived from Greek and means ‘fig-resembler’ because the person who named the genus, Daniel Oliver, thought its appearance resembled a shrubby Ficus.

The Chinese vernacular name for this genus is 水丝梨属 (Shuǐ sī lí shǔ).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Zhang, Zhi-Yun; Zhang, Hongda; Endress, Peter K. "Sycopsis". Flora of China. Vol. 9 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri and Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sycopsis sinensis". Chinese sycopsis Shrubs/RHS Gardening. 2022-03-27.
  3. 1 2 "Sycopsis Oliv". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Gledhill, David (2008). The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press. p. 368. ISBN 9780521866453.