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Pseudoclausena chrysogyne (Miq.) T.P.Clark
| Family Name: | Meliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Walsura chrysogyne (Miq.) Bakh.f. |
| Common Name: | Bunya, Laka-laka Jantan, Pasak Lingga Merah |
Pseudoclausena chyrsogyne or Bunya is a medium-sized tree native to Singapore. Growing to 25 m tall, it has imparipinnate leaves with 3 - 15 leaflets. Leaflets are ovate, elliptic or lanceolate, basal leaflets tend to be smaller. Flowers are fragrant, sweet-heavy scent, 5 white petals and reddish-pink, bifid filaments. They are held on an inflorescence clustered near the tips or axils of foliage. It produces almost round, 1 - 2 seeded berry covered in brown hairs, with a beak . Upon maturity, the fruit ripens to yellow, enclosed are elliptic, dark brown, shinning seeds.
Name
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 |
| Maximum Height | 25 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya |
|---|---|
| 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 medium sized tree with pale brown to grey-brown bark, growing to 25 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are odd-pinnate, measuring 18 - 42 cm long, with 3 - 15 leaflets. Leaflets are egg, lance-shaped or elliptic, measuring 5.3 - 18.5 cm long by 2.3 - 6.5 cm wide. The basal leaflets tend to be smaller, 4 - 12.5 cm long by 1.9 - 5.5 cm wide. The midrib and lateral veins are prominent below. |
| Flowers | Flowers are held on an inflorescence of 1 - 10 cm long, clustered near the tips or axils of fully expanded leaves. Flowers are fragrant, carrying a sweet, heavy scent, white, 5-petalled, measuring 2.8 - 4.8 mm long by 1.5 - 18 mm wide. The filament is reddish pink, linear or narrowed at the tip, forked with erect to spreading teeth of 0.4 - 0.5 mm long. |
| Fruit | The fruit is almost-round, 1-2 seeded berry measuring 1.3 - 2.3 cm wide with a short, asymmetrically positioned beak of 3 - 5 mm long, covered in brown hairs, ripening yellow. Enclosed are dark brown, shinning, elliptic seeds of 0.8 - 1.3 cm long. |
| Habitat | Occurs in dense lowland, hill dipterocarp forest to 600 m altitude. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed |
| Etymology | The genus, Pseudoclausena Greek, pseudo meaning false, Clausena (Rutaceae), to which genus the sole species was first referred). The species epithet, chrysogyne Greek, chryso- meaning gold-; gyne meaning woman; referring to the colour of the trichomes covering the ovary. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers), Ornamental Flowers |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
|---|---|
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Attenuate, Oblique / Asymmetrical |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Pink, Red |
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| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
References
| References | <1> Clark, T.P. (1995). Meliaceae. In: Mabberley, D.J., Pannell, C.M. & Sing, A.M. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 12, pt. 1, pp. 55-57. Leiden: Rijksherbarium. <2> Mabberley, D.J. (2013). Pseudoclausena. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Meliaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 4, pp. 234-236. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34212 |
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| Species ID | 8625 |
| 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. |