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Monoon longifolium

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Monoon longifolium (Sonn.) B. Xue & R.M.K. Saunders

Family Name: Annonaceae
Synonyms: Uvaria longifolia, Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites
Common Name: Indian Mast Tree, Mast Tree, Sorrowless Tree, False Ashok Tree, Cemetery Tree, Asoka Tree, 长叶暗罗

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution South India, Sri Lanka

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with narrow, columnar crown and weeping branches. It typically grows up to 8 - 12 m in cultivation, but can reach 20 m in the wild.
Trunk Straight trunk has smooth, greyish brown bark.
Foliage Smooth, glossy leaves are lanceolate with distinctly wavy leaf margins (11 - 31 cm long, 2.5 - 8 cm wide). Leaf tip is long and thin, while leaf base may be wedge-shaped or rounded. New foliage is yellowish to light brown, while mature foliage is dark green. Leaf arrangement is alternate with branches having one leaf per node.
Flowers Pale green to greenish yellow flowers are star-shaped with 6 thin, linear petals.
Fruit Smooth, ovoid to ellipsoid fruits (2 - 2.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide) have fleshy pulp and occur in clusters of 20. Yellowish green, immature fruits ripen to become purplish black. Each fruit contains a single, large seed that is light brown and ovoid to ellipsoid with a curved, longitudinal groove along the surface (2 cm long, 1.4 cm wide).
Associated Fauna The fruits are consumed by bats and birds. It is a favourite food for Koels, birds that belong to the Cuckoo family.
Cultivation This species should be planted in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Individuals should be spaced 1.2 - 1.8 m apart. It is drought tolerant. Propagate by seed, stem cuttings or air layering. For seed propagation, allow fruits to become overripe before harvesting and remove the fleshy pulp from seeds before storing.
Etymology The genus "Polyalthia" is derived from the Greek words for many ("poly") and healing properties ("althia"), referring to the flowers which were thought to have medicinal properties. The species epithet "longifolia" means "long leaves" in Latin ("longus" and "folium", respectively).

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Form
Landscape Uses Suitable for Roadsides, Hedge / Screening, Focal Plant

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna Butterfly Host Plant, Bird-Attracting

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Propagation Method Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Smooth
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Red
Foliar Venation Pinnate / Net
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Green - Light Green

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Black, Purple

References

References Xue, B., Su, Y.C.F., Thomas, D. C & Saunders, R.M.K. 2012. Pruning the polyphyletic genus Polyalthia (Annonaceae) and resurrecting the genus Monoon. Taxon. 61. 5. 1021-1039

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Master ID 1786
Species ID 3079
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 18 February 2022.
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