Pemphis
| Pemphis | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Pemphis acidula, in its shortest form, on the coast of Réunion Island | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Pemphis J.R.Forst & G.Forst[1] |
Pemphis is a possibly unispecific genus of maritime plants in family Lythraceae, represented by the type species, described in 1775, Pemphis acidula[2] (Other species listed here, upon further scrutiny, may or may not be ajudged classifiable under Pemphis, but for the purposes of this article, Pemphis species are referred to as plural).[3]
Pemphis are highly adaptive. Depending on environmental factors, they are densely branched, or low and spreading bushes or short trees, with main stems that can be furcated and lie nearly prone, or develop into one erect trunk. Leaves can be small, fleshy and succulent, or larger, flat and not fleshy.[4] All surfaces are covered generally in silky, colorless trichomes.[3] The fruits and bee-pollinated flowers are produced throughout the year. Seeds can float, and are sometimes propagated through water dispersal.[4]
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Habitat [edit]
Most Pemphis live either at the verges of mangrove forests, well away from the forest-ocean interface; or they colonize beaches behind the intertidal zone, taking hold on rocks, gravel or sand, laterite or limestone, and frequently on promontories or crags.[4]
Range and distribution [edit]
They are not common, but far ranging from coastal, eastern Africa (including the Seychelles,[5] and the Zanzibar Archipelago[4]), states with Indian Ocean coastlines, to the Pacific (Philippines,[6] Cook Islands[7]), northwards up to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands[3] Other places reporting Pemphis include mainland coastal Tanzania, Thailand, Malaysia (Johore), Singapore, Indonesia (Papua, Sumatra, the Moluccas, Madura and Java), Christmas Island, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and throughout tropical Australia. On Java in particular, some areas are uncharacteristicly abundant.[4]
Uses [edit]
Despite the difficulty presented for the prospective carver, wood from Pemphis species is highly prized for its extreme heaviness, toughness and resistance to warping. It is usually fashioned into walking canes, fence posts, tool handles, and even anchors, exhibiting a fine finish.[4]
Pemphis acidula is a valuable tropical species for bonsai, particularly in Asia.[8]
Species [edit]
This genus contains the following species:
Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst & G.Forst
Pemphis eximia King ex J.G.Watson
Pemphis hexandra Mart. ex Koehne
Pemphis madagascariensis Koehne
Pemphis punctata Drake
Pemphis stachydifolia Mart. ex Koehne
- List source :[9]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Plant name details for Pemphis". IPNI. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ Char. Gen. Pl. 34. 1775 "Plant Name Details for Pemphis acidula". IPNI. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. (1994-). "Pemphis". Flora of China (English edition). Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Wim Giesen; Stephan Wulffraat, Max Zieren, Liesbeth Scholten (2006). "Part 2: Description - Trees & shrubs". Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia. Bangkok, Thailand: FAO, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; Wetlands International. ISBN 974-7946-85-8. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ Piggott, C.J. (1961). "Notes on Some of the Seychelles Islands, Indian Ocean". Atoll Research Bulletin 83: 1–10.
- ^ "Kabantigi". Herbarium Digital Library. Philippines National Herbarium. May 1, 2005. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ McCormack, Gerald (2007). "Pemphis acidula". Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. Vers. 2007.2. Bishop Museum, Rarotonga: Cook Islands National Heritage Trust. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ Cheng Cheng-Kung (2007). "Pemphis acidula — A Tropical Classic". Bonsai Societies of Florida Magazine (Cooper City, Florida: Bonsai Societies of Florida (BSF)). XXXVIII (152 (Winter edition)): 7. More than one of
|number=and|issue=specified (help) - ^ "Plant Name Query Results for Pemphis". IPNI. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- Lythraceae
- Flora of Australia
- Flora of China
- Flora of Christmas Island
- Flora of the Cook Islands
- Flora of India
- Flora of Indonesia
- Flora of Malaysia
- Flora of the Maldives
- Flora of Papua New Guinea
- Flora of the Philippines
- Flora of the Ryukyu Islands
- Flora of Seychelles
- Flora of Singapore
- Flora of Taiwan
- Flora of Tanzania
- Flora of Thailand
- Flora of the Zanzibar Archipelago
- Plants and pollinators
- Plants used in bonsai
