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Melicope incana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melicope incana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Melicope
Species:
M. incana
Binomial name
Melicope incana
Synonyms[2]
  • Ampacus alba (Hook.f.) Kuntze
  • Euodia alba Hook.f.

Melicope incana is a tree in the family Rutaceae. It is native to maritime Southeast Asia.[3]

Description

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Melicope incana grows up to 35 m (110 ft) tall. The almost leathery leaves are obovate or elliptic to ovate and measure up to 25 cm (10 in) long and 18 cm (7 in) wide. The inflorescences are axillary and feature unisexual flowers, occasionally bisexual, with white petals.[3][4] The species is most closely related to Melicope hookeri, differing mainly in the smooth (or glabrous) quality of M. incana's leaves.[4]

Taxonomy

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Melicope incana was described in 1994 by the American botanist Thomas Gordon Hartley. The type specimen was collected in Borneo in 1857 and was initially described as Euodia alba by the British botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker. On transfer to the genus Melicope, the specific epithet alba was already in use; incana was used instead, meaning 'grey-white hairy', referring to the leaves.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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Melicope incana is native to Borneo, Sumatra and Sulawesi.[4] Its habitat is in primary and secondary forests, somtimes in swamps, at elevations to 800 m (2,600 ft).[4]

Conservation

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Melicope incana has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. The species has a broad distribution and is not currently facing any significant threats.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (2022). "Melicope incana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T215235231A215235233. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T215235231A215235233.en. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Melicope incana T.G.Hartley". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b Jones, David T. (1995). "Melicope J. R. Forst & G. Forst". In Soepadmo, E.; Wong, K. M. (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. Vol. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. p. 391. ISBN 983-9592-34-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e T. G. Hartley (July 1994). "The genus Melicope (Rutaceae) in Borneo". Sandakania (4): 47–74.