Kopsia pauciflora is a tree in the family Apocynaceae. The specific epithet pauciflora means 'few-flowered'.[4][5]

Kopsia pauciflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Kopsia
Species:
K. pauciflora
Binomial name
Kopsia pauciflora
Synonyms

Of var. mitrephora:[2]

  • Kopsia mitrephora Sleesen

Of var. pauciflora:[3]

  • Kopsia alba Ridl. ex M.R.Hend.
  • Kopsia caudata Merr.
  • Kopsia lancifolia Markgr.
  • Kopsia parvifolia Merr.

Description

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Kopsia pauciflora grows up to 10 metres (30 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 15 centimetres (6 in). The bark is grey, olive-brown or white. Its flowers feature a white corolla, sometimes with yellow or green. The fruits are black when ripe.[6]

Varieties

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As of February 2023, Plants of the World Online accepted two varieties:[1]

  • Kopsia pauciflora var. mitrephora (Sleesen) D.J.Middleton – Borneo[2]
  • Kopsia pauciflora var. pauciflora – Borneo, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, Sumatra, and Thailand[3]

Distribution and habitat

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Kopsia pauciflora is native to Thailand, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo.[1] Its habitat is forests from sea level to 700 metres (2,300 ft) altitude.[6]

Conservation

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Kopsia lancifolia was assessed as "vulnerable" in the 1998 IUCN Red List, where it is said to be native only to Sabah on the island of Borneo.[7] As of February 2023, K. lancifolia was regarded as a synonym of Kopsia pauciflora var. pauciflora, which has a much wider distribution.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kopsia pauciflora". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  2. ^ a b "Kopsia pauciflora var. mitrephora (Sleesen) D.J.Middleton". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  3. ^ a b c "Kopsia pauciflora var. pauciflora". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  4. ^ Allen J. Coombes The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants, p. 106, at Google Books
  5. ^ D. Gledhill The Names of Plants, p. 220, at Google Books
  6. ^ a b Middleton, David J. (September 2004). "Kopsia pauciflora Hook.f.". In Soepadmo, E.; Saw, L. G.; Chung, R. C. K. (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). Vol. 5. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 38–40. ISBN 983-2181-59-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  7. ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Kopsia lancifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T31867A9665671. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T31867A9665671.en. Retrieved 2023-02-08.