Aleurites

Light walnut ( Aleurites moluccana )

Aleurites is a genus of the family Euphorbiaceae ( Euphorbiaceae ). The genus includes two species in today's opinion. The only two species are distributed in tropical Asia, Australasia and Oceania.

Description

In the two Aleurites species are evergreen trees. The change-constant leaves are usually lobed and hairy. The tiny stipules fall off early.

They are monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). In terminal inflorescences many flowers sit together. The radial symmetry, bell-shaped flowers are cream-colored. The sepals are fused. The five ( or six ) petals ( petals ) are free. 17 to 32 stamens are arranged in four circles, the outer ones are free, the inner are fused. The ovary is upper constant.

Use

The nuts of the light walnut ( Aleurites moluccana ) are used for oil extraction.

Systematics and distribution

In the past, other species were to be counted, most of which are now assigned to the genus Vernicia, about the tung oil tree ( Vernicia fordii, Syn: Aleurites fordii ). The genus name Aleurites comes from the Greek, means mealy and refers to the appearance of the leaf.

The genus Aleurites in today's opinion includes two types:

• Light walnut ( Aleurites mollucana (L.) Willd. ): It is distributed in tropical Asia and Oceania of India on China to Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand.
• Aleurites rockinghamensis ( Baill. ) PIForst. Rarer the species is found only in Papua New Guinea and Australia.