Differences between Chicle and Photinia

1. Leaf Difference

The leaves of the sugar gum tree are arranged in whorls of 3 to 8, and are obovate-oblong, oblanceolate or spoon-shaped, vaguely elliptical or oblong, about 7 to 28 cm long and 2 to 11 cm wide. The leaves are glabrous, with rounded or slightly obtuse apex, cuneate base, and petiole 1 to 2.5 cm long.

The leaves of Photinia are leathery, oblong, obovate-elliptical or oblong-obovate, 9 to 22 cm long, 3 to 6.5 cm wide, with a slightly pointed tip and a rounded or broadly cuneate base. The edges of the leaves have sparse serrations, the upper side of the leaves is shiny, glabrous on both sides, and the petioles are thick.

2. Flower Differences

The flowers of the sugar gum tree are white, and many flowers form dense cymes. The inflorescence is terminal, the corolla tube is 6 to 10 mm long, and the lobes of the flowers are oblong or ovate-oblong.

The compound cyme of Photinia is terminal, 10 to 16 cm in diameter, with densely grown flowers, 6 to 8 mm in diameter, sepals are broadly triangular, petals are white, nearly round, and 3 to 4 mm in diameter.