Occurring as a shrub or as a tree, Daphniphyllum majus is a species in the family Daphniphyllaceae. It is found in Mainland Southeast Asia and Yunnan in China. Uses of the plant include fuel and smoking-material.
| Daphniphyllum majus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Daphniphyllaceae |
| Genus: | Daphniphyllum |
| Species: | D. majus
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| Binomial name | |
| Daphniphyllum majus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editThe species is in section Lunata of Daphniphyllum, along with D. calycinum and D. griffithianum.[6]
This species has 4 accepted infraspecific varieties:
- Daphniphyllum majus var. deciduum T.C.Huang[7]
- Daphniphyllum majus var. majus
- Daphniphyllum majus var. phanrangense (Gagnep.) T.C.Huang
- Daphniphyllum majus var. pierrei (Hance) T.C.Huang
Description
editDaphniphyllum majus grow from 2m to 10m tall.[8][9] Its grayish-brown branchlets are stout and densely covered in lenticels. The leaf blade is green when dry, glaucous below, oblong-elliptic or obovate-oblong in shape, (16-)20-37 × 7-14 cm, apex acuminate, reticulate veins are prominent on both surfaces. Along with some others species of the genus, D. majus has loosely arranged conical to round palisade cells in its leaves.[6] The species also has small (20 microns) irregular epidermal guard cells on the adaxial ("top") side of the leaf and bigger (24 microns) dome-shaped epidermal/guard cells on the abaxial side along with leaf stomata that are hemiparacytic (traits only shared with D. calycinum). The calyx is persistent, 2-3mm in size. The fruit 10-15 mm, not glaucous, loosely arranged. The plant flowers in China in March and April, fruiting from October to December.
Var. pierrei is a tall shrub, growing 1 to 6m tall.[10]
Distribution
editThe species overall is native to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern Yunnan (where it is found in Jinghong, Maguan, Malipo, Menghai, and Pingbian counties and Simao District), Laos and Myanmar.[7] Var. deciduum is endemic to Cambodia.[11][8] The nominate variety, var. majus, is found in Thailand, Myanmar and Yunnan.[2] Var. phanrangense is endemic to Vietnam.[4] Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos are the native regions for the var. pierrei.[5]
Habitat
editIn China, D. majus is found in forest at between 1100 and 1500m elevation.[8] Var. pierrei is found in coastal forests.[10]
Vernacular names
editDaphniphyllum majus is known as 大叶虎皮楠 da ye hu pi nan in China.[8] Var. pierrei is known as rum dé:nh or châmbâk pra:ng in Khmer.[10]
Uses
editThe dried leaves of var. pierrei are smoked (as in tobacco) in Cambodia. The wood is excellent firewood.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Daphniphyllum majus Müll.Arg., Linnaea 34(1): 76 (1865)". International Plant Name Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Daphniphyllum majus var. majus". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "aphniphyllum majus Müll.Arg. is an accepted name". The Plant ListPLANTLIST.ORG. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Daphniphyllum majus var. phanrangense (Gagnep.) T.C.Huang". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Daphniphyllum majus var. pierrei (Hance) T.C.Huang". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b Tang, M.-S.; Yang, Y.-P.; Sheue, C.-R. (2009). "Comparative morphology on leaves of Daphniphyllum (Daphniphyllaceae)". Blumea. 54: 63–8. doi:10.3767/000651909X474104.
- ^ a b "Daphniphyllum majus Müll.Arg". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d "8. Daphniphyllum majus Müller Argoviensis, Linnaea. 34: 76. 1865". Flora of China. 11: 315, 317. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "1. Daphniphyllum Blume, Bijdr. 13: 1152. 1826". Flora of China. 11: 315. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. pp. 14, 15.
- ^ "Daphniphyllum majus var. deciduum T.C.Huang". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Science. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
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