Calophyllum
Calophyllum is a flowering plant genus of around 180-200 species of tropical evergreen trees in the family Calophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words καλος (kalos), meaning "beautiful", and φυλλον (phullon), meaning "leaf." Its members are native to Australasia, Madagascar, Eastern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean and Latin America. The common names, as well as commercial names, for these trees are:
- Teitai (in Kiribati),
- Feta'u (in Tonga),[1]
- Nyamplung or Kosambi (in Indonesia)
- Bintangor tree (in Malaysia) and
- Poon tree (in India),
- Guanandi, Jacareuba or Santa Maria (in Latin America).
Contents |
[edit] Habitat
These species grow in a wide number of habitats, from ridges in mountain forests to coastal swamps, lowland forest and even coral cays. They are large hardwoods, attaining 30 m in height and 0.8 m in diameter. It presents shiny and leathery leaves. The tree bark is grey or white and decorticates in large thin strips. The wood is light in weight, the heartwood pink-red, or almost brown, while the sapwood varies from species to species, often from yellow, brown (often with pink tints) to orange. Species occurring in Papua New Guinea are often buttressed.
[edit] Uses
Several species have been found to contain naturally occurring calanolides in various quantities.[clarification needed]
The lightweight hardwood of these species is used in boatmaking for masts and spars, as well as in luxury furniture and flooring.
For medicinal (folk medicine and ethnopharmacology) uses of leaves, oil from nuts and crost balsam,[clarification needed] for HIV and AIDS, see calanolide A and calanolide B,[2] Jacareubin,[3] Tamanu oil,[4] and Calophyllic acid.[5] For medicinal use from their resin, see tacamahac.
[edit] Symbolism
The Calophyllum is a national symbol of the Pacific nation of Nauru, appearing on the national coat of arms.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry
- ^ The calanolides, a novel HIV-inhibitory class of coumarin derivatives from the tropical rainforest tree, Calophyllum lanigerum - National Cancer Institute. Retrieved on May 7, 2008
- ^ Studies in the xanthone series. Part VIII. An unambiguous synthesis of jacareubin - www.rsc.org. Retrieved on May 7, 2008
- ^ Tamanu oil - www.drugs.com. Retrieved on May 7, 2008
- ^ (WO/1994/014789) COUMARIN DERIVATIVES AS RETROVIRAL INHIBITORS WIPO - www.wipo.int. Retrieved on May 7. 2008
[edit] External links
Data related to Calophyllum at Wikispecies 
Media related to Calophyllum at Wikimedia Commons
