Alangium

Illustration of Alangium salviifolium from Engler's " The plant kingdom "

The genus Alangium comprises about twenty species of plants belonging to the family of the Dogwood ( Cornaceae ). They are mainly distributed in Southeast Asia, a few species are found northward to Japan, west to Madagascar and Africa.

Description

All species in this genus are woody plants, both evergreen and deciduous species: Trees or shrubs, rarely lianas. The alternate arranged leaves are simple, entire or slightly lobed.

The flowers are several as zymöse inflorescences in the leaf axils. The flowers are white or whitish - yellow, the narrow petals curl up when opening the flower bud back or curl up. The large anthers are on long stamens far out from the flower. The ovary is inferior. The result is a one-seeded drupe.

Dissemination

Distribution center of Alangium is Southeast Asia, north of Japan and Korea, China, the southern slope of the Himalayas over the Indonesian archipelago to the tropical Australia. In Madagascar and Africa, there are the westernmost distribution areas.

The size of the populated area from species to species is completely different: Alangium chinense comes from China to Africa before - with corresponding variations that have led to numerous synonyms. Other species, such as A. circulare, A. havilandii or A. longiflorum are classified as "vulnerable " on the Red List, because their habitat has become dangerously small.

In Central Europe, no species are endemic, rare to see Alangium platanifolium or A. chinense as ornamental trees.

Use

Some species are used medicinally, including A. chinense and A. salviifolium. Because of the pretty, fragrant flowers sometimes you plant them as ornamental trees.

Species

The genus includes about twenty species Alangium:

  • Alangium alpinum (C. B. Clarke ) W. W. Sm & Cave
  • Alangium barbatum ( R.Br. ex C.B.Clarke ) Baill. ex Kuntze
  • Alangium chinense ( Lour. ) Harms
  • Alangium circulare B.C.Stone & Kochummen
  • Alangium faberi Oliv.
  • Alangium griffithii ( C.B.Clarke ) Harms
  • Alangium grisolleoides Capuron
  • Alangium havilandii Bloemb.
  • Alangium javanicum ( flower) Wangerin
  • Alangium kurzii Craib
  • Alangium kwangsiense Melch.
  • Alangium lamarckii Thwaites
  • Alangium longiflorum Merr.
  • Alangium nobile ( C.B.Clarke ) Harms
  • Alangium platanifolium ( Siebold & Zucc. ) Harms
  • Alangium salviifolium ( L. f ) Wangerin

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