Aleurites
| Aleurites | ||||||||||||
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Light walnut ( Aleurites moluccanus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Aleurites | ||||||||||||
| JR Forest. & G.Forst. |
Aleurites is a genus ofthe milkweed family (Euphorbiaceae). According to today's view, the genus comprises two species . The two species are only found in tropical Asia, Australasia and Oceania.
description
The two species of Aleurites are evergreen trees . The alternate leaves are mostly lobed and hairy. The tiny stipules fall off early.
They are single sexed ( monoecious ). Many flowers sit together in terminal inflorescences . The radial symmetry , bell-shaped flowers are cream-colored. The sepals are fused. The five (to six) petals are free. 17 to 32 stamens are arranged in four circles, the outer ones are free, the inner ones are fused. The ovary is on top.
use
The nuts of the light walnut tree ( Aleurites moluccanus ) are used to produce oil.
Systematics and distribution
In the past, other species were added, most of which are now part of the genus Vernicia , such as the tung oil tree ( Vernicia fordii , Syn .: Aleurites fordii ). The genus name Aleurites comes from the Greek , means floury and refers to the appearance of the underside of the leaf.
According to today's understanding, the genus Aleurites comprises two species :
- Light walnut ( Aleurites mollucanus (L.) Willd. ): It is widespread in tropical and subtropical Asia and Oceania from India through China to New Guinea and Queensland.
- Aleurites rockinghamensis (Baill.) PIForst. : The rarer species occurs from Papua New Guinea to northeast Queensland.
literature
- W. Stuppy, PC Van Welzen, P. Klinratana & MCT Posa: Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). In: Blumea , Volume 44, 1999, pp. 73-98: W. Stuppy, PC van Welzen, P. Klinratana & MCT Posa Online at Malesian Euphorbiaceae Descriptions - 5. ALEURITES .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Aleurites. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 20, 2020.
