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Vatica chinensis

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Species of tree

Vatica chinensis
Vatica chinensis tree in Edappally, Kochi
Conservation status

Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Genus: Vatica
Species: V. chinensis
Binomial name
Vatica chinensis
Linn

Vatica chinensis is a species of flowering tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae, found in South Asia.

Distribution

The tree is native to the Western Ghats range in Karnataka and Kerala states of southern India; and historically to Sri Lanka, where it is either extremely rare or possibly extinct. It is an IUCN Red List Critically endangered species.

It is part of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion flora.

Description

Vatica chinensis is a tropical evergreen tree, growing to 25 metres (82 ft) in height. Its trunk bole is buttressed, pale green smooth bark. The exudation is resinous.

Leaves are simple, alternate; stipules small, fugacious; petiole 20–50 mm long, stout, glabrous; lamina 9-25 x 3–11 cm, ovate or oblong, base obtuse or broadly cuneate, apex obtusely acute, margin entire, coriaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves 10-14 pairs, parallel, prominent, intercostae scalariform, prominent.

Flowers are bisexual, white, in axillary spreading panicles; pedicels 5-ribbed; ribs alternating with sepals; calyx tube very short, adnate to the base of the ovary; lobes 5, ovoid-deltoid, acute, pubescent; petals 5, white, oblong; stamens 15 in 2 rows; filaments short, flattened at base; anthers oblong, shortly apiculate; ovary superior, covered with large shallow pits, lepidote, 3-celled, ovules 2 in each cell; style about as long as ovary, ribbed; stigmas densely papillose, obscurely 3-lobed.

Fruits are a capsule, lepidote, subglobose shortly pointed with 3 obscure, loculicidal furrows, puberulous; pericarp coriaceous; calyx persistent.

Vatica chinensis fruit
Vatica chinensis flower
Vatica chinensis leaf

References

  1. ^ Deepu, S.; Sanil, M.S.; Sreekumar, V.B.; Jose, P.A. (2021). "Vatica chinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T33030A169589229. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T33030A169589229.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Flora of Karnataka, Sharma B. D, 1984, Biodiversity Documentation for Kerala Part 6: Flowering Plants, N. Sasidharan, 2004
  3. ^ India biodiversity portal: Vatica chinensis report; by Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi.
  4. Vatica chinensis − L., Mant. Pl. 2: 242. 1771; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 84(61). 1915; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 84. 1984; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 42. 1982; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 53. 1990; K.P. Janardh. in B.D. Sharma & Sanjappa, Fl. India 3: 248. 1993; K.P. Janardh. & W. Arisdason in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 373. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 113. 2009.
  5. Vateria roxburghiana Wight ex Arn., Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 1, 3: 155. 1839. (syn: Vatica chinensis)
  6. Vatica roxburghiana (Wight) Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 2: 31, t.1849; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 302. 1874. (syn: Vatica chinensis)
Taxon identifiers
Vatica chinensis
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