Galbulimima

Galbulimima is a genus of magnolia -like, which forms a separate family Himantandraceae.

Features

The species are trees with aromatic, simple, change-constant leaves. These are young covered with shield-shaped scales, and have translucent oil body.

The flowers are hermaphroditic and are available individually in the leaf axils. As buds they are of two leathery sepals, which can also be interpreted as bracts, shrouded. The numerous stamens are flat and petal -like white or red with marginal standing pollen sacs. Only the inner stamens are fertile. The gynoecium consists of seven to 15 more or a few free carpels, which fuse later to a bile -like, fleshy fruit with stone cores. Per carpel there are ( a ) two ovules.

The plants have only alkaloids of the polyketide - type. The xylem vessels have simple, step-shaped perforations.

Dissemination

The genus is found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia to Northeast Australia. Your southernmost distribution area is the northern New South Wales.

System

The Himantrandaceae are within the magnolia -like the sister group of the Degeneriaceae. The only genus galbulimima consists of two types:

• Galbulimima baccata F.M.Bailey
• Galbulimima belgraveana ( F.Muell. ) Sprague

The two species were previously performed as a generic Himantandra, when the family of Diels was erected.

Sources and further information

• Flora of Australia online
• Himantandraceae on the APWebsite