Who knows that flowers will not bloom for a hundred days?

Recently, the weather was sultry and I went to several places in the south of the Yangtze River. I often see crape myrtle trees in the small courtyard of Xitang boathouse, under the shade of Huqiu Mountain in Gusu, in the garden of Governor of Jinling and Liangjiang, and beside the pavilion of Slender West Lake in Yangzhou. I saw green leaves lined with colorful flowers. On this hot day, I was not only amazed at this gorgeous tree species!

Lagerstroemia is a dicotyledonous plant of Lagerstroemia, which is also known as Jinger Tree, Hundred Days Red, Full House Red and Licorice Tree.

Lagerstroemia indica is indeed a very interesting and distinctive tree species.

First of all, it should be said that Lagerstroemia indica has a special flowering period, which can last from summer to autumn. According to the statistics of florists, the flowering period can reach 130 days or even longer. On that splendid branch, flowers are like clusters of red clouds and Xia Zi lingering with green leaves, which makes it known as "Hundred Days Red". Ancient poets praised it as "green in midsummer, and this flower is full of red eyes". "Who said that flowers are not red for a hundred days, Ziwei?"

Ziwei also has an interesting name called "ticklish tree". If we scratch the trunk of Lagerstroemia indica with our hands, its leaves will vibrate, just like people giggling after being tickled. Therefore, people call it ticklish tree. According to this characteristic of Wei Zi in Qing Dynasty, Li Yu said: It is said that plants have no feelings, but it seems that this is not the case. Wei Zi is afraid of people grabbing at tree trunks, but it can be expressed that other trees and flowers can't. It can be seen that flowers and trees must have feelings, but they just can't express them. He advised people to take good care of plants and not to cut and trample them at will.

When the branches of Lagerstroemia indica grow up year after year, they will automatically peel off. After the original epidermis fades, it will show delicate blue-gray jade muscles and textures, smooth as jade. The older the tree, the smoother the trunk, which is called "ape sliding tree". It means that tree climbers like apes can't climb up because the trunk is slippery.

Lagerstroemia indica is a small tree, a longevity tree and an ornamental tree with low plant type, which is very suitable for planting in courtyards and streets. Lagerstroemia indica was planted in Chang 'an Palace as early as the Tang Dynasty. White, purple, violet and red flowers make summer cool and make cool autumn warm. "Purple blooms for the longest time, rotten for ten days, summer passes through autumn, and new flowers follow old branches." In autumn, crape myrtle leaves will gradually become more and more red, such as autumn leaves cream, such as patches of rosy clouds.

Lagerstroemia speciosa has graceful posture, smooth trunk, beautiful flowers and leaves, and can resist all kinds of toxic gases, so it has become a wonderful flower in the garden and has been loved by people since ancient times. Wang Jia of the Eastern Jin Dynasty recorded in Notes that Lagerstroemia indica was widely planted as early as 1600 years ago. During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Zi became the synonym of the Chinese Secretariat and the Chinese Secretariat. The ancients also thought: "Wei Zi's skin is not stubborn, smooth and lovely." One branch counts glumes and one glume counts stamens. There are four colors of red, purple, green and white, and the flowering period can last for several months. Shady stone corners are planted everywhere on the wall, and there are many yingshan mountains, which have become a knot for a long time. In early summer, when the afterheat disappears, it's better to be full of English vomit, sit under the flowers and enjoy tea. "

Lagerstroemia indica is divided into 4 strains, 9 categories and about 50 varieties. Lagerstroemia indica, with purple flowers; Yin Wei, with white or slightly cocoon-colored flowers and light green leaves; Chi Wei, fireworks red; Cuiwei, purple flowers, dark green leaves. The roots and bark of Lagerstroemia indica can be used as medicine. Has the effects of promoting blood circulation, stopping bleeding, removing toxic substances and reducing swelling, and can be used for treating various bleeding, fracture, mastitis, eczema, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and ascites.

Lagerstroemia speciosa is rich, auspicious, elegant and curious because of its different colors. Since ancient times, the famous poetry nouns praising Wei Zi are dizzying. In the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi said in Ode to Wei Zisong: "The four poems are quiet and the bells and drums are long. Sitting alone at dusk, who is the companion, Wei Zihua vs Ziweilang. " The poem describes the quiet and lonely life of Ziweilang in the Imperial Academy. Only Ziweilang brings people beautiful and fragrant appreciation and enjoyment. In the Tang Dynasty, Du Mu's Wei Zihua said, "Xiao Ying's autumn dew and new branches do not occupy the most spring in the garden. What is silent peach and plum? People who laugh at the sunshine in the wind. " Through this poem, we can see that in the autumn morning, dew condenses on the branches and leaves of Lagerstroemia indica, which dominates the scenery in the garden with all flowers falling. Why are peaches and plums, once the best, now silent? Ziwei blooms in the wind, laughing at the flowers that once competed with the sun. Du Mu told people that they should have the flashy temperament and self-cultivation of Wei Zi. In Song Dynasty, Yang Wanli's Wei Zifu said: "It is better to be infatuated and weak, especially to expose the pressure and bully the wind. Who knows that the flowers are not red for a hundred days, and Ziwei is half a year long. " This poem describes the most precious place in Wei Zi, that is, the flowering period is particularly long. In the south of China, from May to October, you can see its flowers, "enchanting, trembling and dancing".