Mesua nervosa

• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Common Names

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Description

Family Clusiaceae

Trees , shrubs , or sometimes herbs containing resin or oil in schizogenous spaces or canals and sometimes black or red glands containing hypericin or pseudohypericin. Leaves simple , entire or rarely gland-fringed, opposite or sometimes whorled , nearly always estipulate. Flowers bisexual or unisexual , regular, hypogynous, solitary or in cymes or thyrses ; bracteoles often inserted just beneath calyx and then not always easily distinguishable from sepals. Sepals (2-) 4 or 5(or 6), imbricate or decussate or rarely wholly united in bud, inner ones sometimes petaloid . Petals [3 or]4 or 5[or 6], free , imbricate or contorted in bud. Stamens many to rarely few (9), in [3 or]4 or 5 bundles (fascicles) that are free and antipetalous or variously connate , with filaments variously united or apparently free and then sometimes sterile (staminodes) ; anther dehiscence longitudinal . Staminode bundles (fasciclodes) 3-5, free and antisepalous or variously connate or absent. Ovary superior, with 2-5(-12) connate carpels, 1-12-loculed, with axile to parietal or basal placentation ; ovules 1 to many on each placenta, erect to pendulous; styles 1-5[-12], free or ± united or absent; stigmas 1-12, punctiform to peltate or, when sessile, radiate , surface papillate or smooth . Fruit a septicidal or septifragal, rarely loculicidal, capsule, berry, or drupe; seeds 1 to many, without or almost without endosperm [sometimes arillate ].

About 40 genera and 1200 species: mainly in tropical regions , except Hypericum and Triadenum, which are both mainly temperate in distribution; eight genera (one endemic) and 95 species (48 endemic, one introduced ) in China.

The Clusiaceae are a rather economically important family . Many species, such as Mesua ferrea and Garcinia paucinervis, have hard wood . Numerous species in Calophyllum, Clusia Linnaeus, and Garcinia produce valuable commercial resin or gum. Gamboge is produced from Garcinia morella Desrousseaux and other species. Garcinia mangostana and Mammea americana Linnaeus produce well-known edible fruits. Other species, such as Calophyllum inophyllum and Garcinia indica Choisy, have oily seeds. Hypericum is important in horticulture and medicine.

[1]

Genus Mesua

Trees . Apical bud abortive ; axillary buds with scales . Leaves opposite, petiolate , leathery, usually with inconspicuous, translucent glands ; secondary veins many, slender; tertiary veins scalariform, not prominent . Flowers bisexual , homostylous, solitary, axillary [or in axillary thyrses]. Sepals 4[or 5], imbricate. Petals 4[or 5], imbricate. Stamens many, not obviously fascicled, in continuous ring ; filaments free , slender; anthers erect , basifixed ; fasciclodes absent. Ovary 2-loculed, with 2 erect ovules per locule; styles united , elongate ; stigma peltate. Capsule subwoody, septifragal; septae persistent . Seeds 1-4, without appendage ; embryo with broad fleshy cotyledons.

About five species: India and Sri Lanka to peninsular Malaysia, possibly Java, and China; one species (introduced ) in China.[2]

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : Planch. & Triana Publication : in Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. IV . xv. (1861) 307

Similar Species

Members of the genus Mesua

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 3 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

M. ferrea (Ceylon Ironwood) · M. ferruginea (Ironwood Tree) · M. nervosa (Chestnut Ironwood)

More Info

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Further Reading

• Burma, its people and productions; or, Notes on the fauna, flora, and minerals of Tenasserim, Pegu, and Burma. Hertford: S. Austin, 1882-1883. url p. 637.
• Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45 2003 Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- url p. 268, p. 454, p. 458, p. 544, p. 552.
• Preliminary report on the forest and other vegetation of Pegu. CalcuttaC.B. Lewis, Baptist Mission Press1875 url p. xiv.
• The flora of British India /By J. D. Hooker assisted by various botanists. Published under the authority of the secretary of state for India in council. 1 1875 London: L. Reeve, 1875-97. url p. 277, p. 277.
• Li Xiwen & Li Yan-hui. 1990. Guttiferae. In: Li Hsiwen [Xiwen], ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 50(2): 1-112.

Notes

Contributors

• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Jan 19, 2007.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 10606967
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:428851-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 428851-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1234872

Footnotes

1. Xi-wen Li, Jie Li, Norman K. B. Robson & Peter Stevens "Clusiaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 1. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. Xi-wen Li, Jie Li & Peter Stevens "Mesua". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 1, 38. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.