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Cleistanthus macrophyllus Hook.f.

Family Name:

Phyllanthaceae

Cleistanthus macrophyllus is a large shrub to small tree, critically endangered to Singapore. Growing to a height of 6 m tall, it has leathery leaves, small whitish flowers and 3-lobed fruit that splits upon maturity. The male and female flowers are produced separately on the same plant, held on an inflorescence along the axils. They are star-like with 5 petals and 5 sepals, bearing numerous hairy bracts.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Maximum Height	6 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Southeast Yunnan, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaya, Singapore and Thailand
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 smooth, small-sized tree to large shrub, growing up to 6 m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are leathery, varying between the shapes of spoon-like, oblong to elliptic, measuring 14 - 30 cm long by 8 - 15 cm wide. Held on a short leaf stalk of 0.6 - 0.8 cm long, it is glossy below and veinlets are visible on both sides.
Flowers	Flowers are monoecious whereby the female and male flowers are produced separately on the same individual. Flowers are small, whitish, held on an inflorescence at the axils, each producing 5 sepals and 5 petals, supported by numerous hairy, egg-shaped bracts.

Fruit	The fruit is a pale brown, 3-lobed capsule which spilt open when matured. It measures between 0.7 - 1.5 cm wide, revealing its smooth seeds of up to 2 per lobe.
Habitat	Occurs in evergreen forest, along streams on limestones, up to 700 m in altitude.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Obovate, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Mucronate
Foliar Base	Acute, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Green

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Stellate / Star-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Cyme
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

References

References	<1> Li, B & Dressler, S. (2008). Cleistanthus. In: Wu, Z. Y., P. H. Raven & Hong, D. Y. (eds.) Cleistanthus. Flora of China, vol. 11, pp. 172-174. Beijing: Science Press and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press. <2> Roisungnern, K. & Chayamarit, K. (2005). Flora of Thailand, vol. 8(1): pp. 174. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

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Master ID	33892
Species ID	8308
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.