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Bhesa nitidissima

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Species of flowering plant

Bhesa nitidissima
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Centroplacaceae
Genus: Bhesa
Species: B. nitidissima
Binomial name
Bhesa nitidissima
Kosterm.

Bhesa nitidissima is a species of plant in the Centroplacaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Description

A tree with an average height of 20-30 meters (65-98 feet) but can reach as high as 50 meters (164 feet). Bark is usually dark brown and deeply cracked on older specimens. The unique feature of the Bhesa genus within the Centroplacaceae family is its geniculate petioles; which essentially means that the leaf bends sharply away from the stalk. The petiole usually contains three vascular bundles. Seed germination is epigeal. Produces 3-4mm wide, greenish to white sessile flowers with 5 petals. The flowers produce greenish brown, oblong seeds encased in a thick gelatinous aril inside capsules up to 2.2cm long.

Ecology

Endemic to Sri Lanka. Found mostly in low elevation wet zone forests, but have a recorded range of up to 1600 meters (5249 feet). The tree flowers September through October and produces fruit November through December. Although listed as critically endangered in 1998, a 2017 handbook of Sri Lankan flora suggests the tree is now quite common.

Uses

The arils of Bhesa are a known human food source. The tree is occasionally used for timber. Extracts from this genus are used in traditional medicine, to cure vomiting and diarrhea.

References

  1. ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Bhesa nitidissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32613A9717641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32613A9717641.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ Dassanayake, M.D. (2017). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. CRC Press. p. 79. ISBN 9781351469524.
  3. ^ Simmons, Mark P. (2004). "Celastraceae". In Kubitzki, Klaus (ed.). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 6; Flowering Plants · Dicotyledons: Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 29–37. ISBN 9783662072578.
  4. Jayasinghe, U.L.B.; Vithana, H.S.K.; Wannigama, G.P.; Fujimoto, Y. (2001). "Phytochemical communication; 24-Methylenecycloartenone from Bhesa nitidissima". Fitoterapia. 72 (5): 594–595. doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00277-5. PMID 11429266.
Taxon identifiers
Bhesa nitidissima


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