Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Sycopsis

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

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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189 w
Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Sycopsis
Sycopsis sinensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
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,12 Assam, and Taiwan.3

Characteristics

Sycopsis are evergreen12 or semi-evergreen2 shrubs or small trees. Their leaves are leathery and their flowers have no petals.12

Species

Three species are accepted.3

  • Sycopsis griffithiana Oliv.
  • Sycopsis sinensis Oliv.
  • Sycopsis triplinerva H.T.Chang

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.4

The Chinese vernacular name for this genus is 水丝梨属 (Shuǐ sī lí shǔ).1

References

References

  1. Zhang, Zhi-Yun; Zhang, Hongda; Endress, Peter K. "Sycopsis". Flora of China. Vol. 9 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  2. "Sycopsis sinensis". Chinese sycopsis Shrubs/RHS Gardening. 2022-03-27.
  3. "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.