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Mezzettia parviflora Becc.
| Family Name: | Annonaceae |
| Synonyms: | Lonchomera leptopoda Hook.f. & Thomson, Mezzettia leptopoda (Hook.f. & Thomson) Oliv. |
| Common Name: | Mempisang, Meroyan Hutan |
Mezzettia parviflora is a tall tree that can grow to 40 m tall. It has triangular, greenish-yellow flowers produced along the branches. Flowers come in 2 whorls of 3 petals each; outer petals tend to be elongated while the inner petals are shorter and round. Fruit is round to almost round, carrying a waxy bloom. A native to Singapore, this species can be found in a variety of forest types such as lowland dipterocarp, old secondary and peat-swamps forests.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 40 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Andaman Islands to Malesia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tall tree of up to 40 m tall, buttresses may develop up to 0.3 m high. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaves are alternate, stalked, oblong, elliptic to lanceolate in shape. Leaves are leathery, dull-coloured on the underside measuring 3.5 - 16 cm long by 2 - 5.5 cm wide. The tips of leaves varies from pointed, rounded to retused (depressed tip). |
| Flowers | Flowers are produced along the branches held on a short hairy stalk up to 2mm long. They are triangular, greenish-yellow, clustered to a fan-like cymose inflorescence. Each flower contains 2 whorls of 3 petals - the outer petals are elongated while inner petals tend to be shorter and round. A leaf-like bract can be found at the base of the stalk measuring about 0.5 to 3 mm long. |
| Fruit | Fruit is 2-seeded, round to almost round, covered in waxy bloom at 3 - 8 cm in diameter. |
| Habitat | Occurs as a lowland species up to 800 m altitude. Found in lowland Dipterocarp forests, old secondary forests, Kerangas, peat-swamp forests or forest bordering the mangroves, on flat land, hill and river sides. |
| Cultivation | It thrives well in most soil types (sandy, sandy loam and clayey soils). |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Acute, Retuse |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Cauliflorous |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green - Bluish Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Waxy |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:73910-1. Accessed 19 August 2022. van der Heijden, E & KeBler, P.J.A. (2000). Studies on the tribe Saccopetaleae (Annonaceae) - III Revision of the genus Mezzettia Beccari. Blumea 35(1): 220 - 225. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33028 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7442 |
| 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. |