Cratoxylum formosum is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. Its commercial name in timber production is "mampat".[3] The trees reach to 35 metres (115 ft) tall, though they rarely achieve the size required for timber exploitation.[3]
| Cratoxylum formosum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Hypericaceae |
| Genus: | Cratoxylum |
| Species: | C. formosum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cratoxylum formosum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Description
editThe leaves are 5–9 centimetres (2.0–3.5 in) long, and are arranged on the stem such that they overlap one another. They are elliptic, glabrous (lacking hairs), and have a papery texture. The flower clusters (inflorescences) are cymes that are shaped somewhat like short racemes. The flowers are white or pink, with sepals a quarter of the length of the petals, which have a rounded base.[4]
Taxonomy
editThe species was previously placed in the defunct genus Elodes under the name Elodes formosa.[1] The Catalogue of Life lists two subspecies, C. formosum subsp. formosum and C. formosum subsp. pruniflorum (Kurz) Gogelein. The two are differentiated by the nominate subspecies being totally glabrous, with leaves that are elliptic to oblong, rarely lanceolate and the anther connective not being glandular.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editCratoxylum formosum is a tropical plant found in the Andaman Islands, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.[2] The trees bloom during the dry period in seasonal tropical climates. They inhabit primary and secondary forests at altitudes from 0–600 m, with the upper limit to 1200 m, on slopes, river margins and swamps in sandy to clayey soils.[5]
Conservation
editCratoxylum formosum is listed as least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,[1] but it is considered to be rare in Singapore.[citation needed] It has a widespread distribution and does not face any major threats,[1] though it is used in Laos for the production of charcoal.[6]
Gallery
edit-
Cratoxylum formosum in bloom -
Fruit -
Drawing of the species (1880 to 1883)
References
edit- ^ a b c d Oldfield, S. (2024). "Cratoxylum formosum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T33354A212030377. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Cratoxylum formosum (Jack) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Dyer". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ a b "'Mampat' entry in the Wood Explorer database". The Wood Explorer database. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ Hooker, J.D. (1875). The Flora of British India. Vol. 1. Missouri Botanical Garden. p. 258.
- ^ a b Robson, N. 1974. Hypericaceae. Flora Malesiana series 1, 8: 1-29[full citation needed]
- ^ "Charcoal maker rewards villagers for growing mai tiew". Vientiane Times. 2011-06-21.