Greek exo— outside, chorde — cord, referring to the fibres outside the ovary placenta.
Deciduous shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, stalked; stipules present. Flower clusters terminal on old wood. Flowers mostly unisexual, each with 5 sepals and petals, the petals obovate, white; spring. Stamens 15-30 on a disk. Ovary superior. Fruit 5-angled with a star-like appearance and separating into 5 capsules, each containing 1-2 seeds that are flat and winged; late summer.
Grown for the attractive white flowers.
About 4 species from Asia.
Seed, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings, layers.
Flowers pure white; fruit a woody capsule.
Source: (2002). Rosaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.