Heterophragma

Heterophragma is a genus of two species of tree, constituting part of the plant family Bignoniaceae.[1] The species are found in Southeast Asia and India.

Heterophragma
Heterophragma quadriloculare (Illustration)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Clade: Crescentiina
Clade: Paleotropical clade
Genus: Heterophragma
DC.
Type species
Heterophragma quadriloculare
(Roxb.) K. Schum.

Naming and classification

Heterophragma is part of the Palaeotropical Clade of the Bignoniaceae, closely related to the following genera: Catophractes, Dolichandrone, Fernandoa, Kigelia, Markhamia, Newbouldia, Radermachera, Rhigozum, Spathodea, and Stereospermum; and to the Coleeae clade (which contains Colea, Phyllarthron, Phylloctenium, and Rhodocolea).[2] The Coleeae clade species are found in Madagascar and surrounding islands, whereas the other genera are found in Asia, Africa and Madagascar.

The influential Swiss botanist, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841) named the genus in 1845, in his publication Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis.[3]

Heterophragma quadriloculare, Fruit

Description

The trees, which can grow up to 20m tall, have whorled/verticillate arrangement of leaves, which are in 3 or four pinnate pairs.[4] Upper side of the leaves are hairy/possessing trichomes, which are star-shaped/stellate. Inflorescences/groups of flowers are in terminal thyrses (put simply, in a stalked arrangement at end of branches). Flowers are cream-white to pale yellow. Calyx are tubular and irregularly lobed. Corolla are tubular with unequal lobes, straight, cream-white to pale yellow in colour. The 4 stamen are shorter that the corolla, anthers are hairless, a single staminodium (infertile stamen structure) is adjacent to the stamens. Ovary is elliptical, lacks hairs and has many ovules per ovary chamber. Fruit are long cylindrical pods with woody valves. Calyx is not permanent on fruit. Seeds are broad and possess translucent wings.

Species

The following former species have now been shifted to other taxa listed:

  • Heterophragma adenophyllum (Wall. ex G.Don) Seem. = Fernandoa adenophylla (Wall. ex G.Don) Steenis
  • Heterophragma chelonoides (L.f.) Dalzell & A.Gibson = Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC.
  • Heterophragma longipes Baker = Fernandoa magnifica Seem.
  • Heterophragma macrolobum Backer ex K.Heyne = Fernandoa macroloba (Miq.) Steenis
  • Heterophragma roxburghii (Spreng.) DC. = Heterophragma quadriloculare (Roxb.) K.Schum.
  • Heterophragma suaveolens (Roxb.) Dalzell & A.Gibson = Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC.
  • Heterophragma vestitum Dop = Heterophragma sulfureum Kurz

Further reading
  • Santisuk, T. & Vidal, J.E. (1985). Bignoniacées Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viêt-Nam 22: 1-72. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

References
  1. "Heterophragma DC". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. Olmstead, Richard G.; Zjhra, Michelle L.; Lohmann, Lúcia G.; Grose, Susan O.; Eckert, Andrew J. (2009). "A molecular phylogeny and classification of Bignoniaceae". American Journal of Botany. 96 (9, September): 1731–1743. doi:10.3732/ajb.0900004. PMID 21622359.
  3. "Heterophragma DC., Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 9: 210 (1845)". International Plant Name Index (IPNI). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. Fischer, E.; Theisen, I.; Lohmann, L.G. (2004). "Bignoniaceae". In Kubitzki, Klaus; Kadereit, Joachim W. (eds.). Flowering Plants, Dicotyledons: Lamiales (except Acanthaceae Including Avicenniaceae). Springer. pp. S. 18. ISBN 978-3-5404059-3-1. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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