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Cynometra mannii Oliv.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
Cynometra mannii is a tree, up to 18 m tall with distinctly notched leaf tip. Young leaves are red and tassel-like, and they gradually turn green over time. The tree produces timber which is occasionally used to make fish traps.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 18 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Africa |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 18 m tall. The trunk sometimes produces prop roots. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are compound and spirally arranged. Each leaf comprises of 3 pairs of leaflets. They are leathery, obovate to oblanceolate with a narrow and distinctly notched leaf tip (emarginate). Young leaves emerge red and tassel-like. They gradually turn green as they mature. |
| Flowers | Flowers occur in a cluster (raceme) at the axis or terminal end of the branches. Inflorescence is short (about 3.8 cm long) and comprises of many white flowers. Each flower has 5 oblong to oval petals and 10 stamens. |
| Fruit | The fruit is obovoid (about 3.1 to 3.8 cm long) and wrinkled. The fruit generally does not split open. However, when the specimen is being dried and pressed, it would split open along the axes perpendicular to the seam of the carpel (sutures). |
| Habitat | It is found in along rivers banks and forest margin. |
| Associated Fauna | Flowers are pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Genus Cynometra is from the Greek words "kynos" which means "a dog" and "metra" which means "womb" and they refer to the shape of the fruit pod. The specific epithet mannii is named after Gustav Mann (1835–1916), a German plant collector for Kew in West Africa and forester of Indian Forest Service. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The wood is occasionally used to make fish traps. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
References
| References | Hutchinson, J. & Dalziel, J.M. (eds) (1954). Flora of West Tropical Africa. vol. 2 and 3. London: Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations. Oliver, D. (1871). Flora of Tropical Africa. vol 2, pp. vii – 613. London: L. Reeve & Co. Radosavljevic, A. (2019). The rise of Cynometra (Leguminosae) and the fall of Maniltoa: a generic re-circumscription and the addition of 4 new species. PhytoKeys 127: 1 – 37. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33827 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8243 |
| 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. |
