Chisocheton

Chisocheton is a genus of trees in the family Meliaceae.[2] The genus name comes from the Greek schizos and chiton meaning "split tunic", referring to the lobed staminal tube of C. patens. Their range is from India and tropical China, throughout Malesia and south to New South Wales and Vanuatu.[1]

Chisocheton
Fruits of Chisocheton cumingianus subsp. balansae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Subfamily: Melioideae
Genus: Chisocheton
Blume[1]
Species

See text

Description

Chisocheton is typically dioecious.[3] Flowers are usually unisexual, rarely bisexual, with a cup-shaped calyx. Fruits are one or two-seeded. Chisocheton habitats are rain forests, typically understorey trees, from sea-level to about 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) altitude.

The wood of several Chisocheton species is used locally in light construction.[1] In the Philippines, the seeds of Chisocheton cumingianus (known locally as balukanag) are used to make a non-drying oil either for traditional medicine or as fuel for oil lamps.[4]

Leaf indeterminacy

Unlike nearly all other seed plants, the leaves of Chisocheton have indeterminate growth - they never stop growing. Instead of forming a terminal leaflet, they form a small leaf-tip bud, which produces new leaflets continuously.[5]

This trait is shared with a few closely related genera, such as Guarea.[6]

Species

As of February 2014 The Plant List recognises 53 accepted species (including infraspecific names):[2]

References
  1. Mabberley, David J.; Sing, Anne M. (March 2007). "Chisocheton Blume". In Soepadmo, E.; Saw, L. G.; Chung, R. C. K.; Kiew, Ruth (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). Vol. 6. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 115–143. ISBN 978-983-2181-89-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  2. "Chisocheton". The Plant List. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  3. Pennington, T. D.; Styles, B. T. (1975). "A Generic Monograph of the Meliaceae". Blumea. 22: 419–540. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.846.5119.
  4. Orosa, Rosalinda L. "Tree of the month (part2) Balukanag (Chisocheton cumingianus)". PhilStar Global. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  5. Fisher, Jack (13 June 2002). "Indeterminate leaves of Chisocheton (Meliaceae): survey of structure and development". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 139 (2): 207–221. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00050.x – via Oxford Academic.
  6. Steingraeber, David A.; Fisher, Jack B. (June 1986). "Indeterminate Growth of Leaves in Guarea (Meliaceae): A Twig Analogue". American Journal of Botany. 73 (6): 852–862. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb12123.x. ISSN 0002-9122.


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