Biology:Horsfieldia kingii

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Short description: Species of tree

Horsfieldia kingii
Horsfieldia kingii.jpg
Horsfieldia kingii fruits
Horsfieldia kingii P1130640 03.jpg
Horsfieldia kingii leaves
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Myristicaceae
Genus: Horsfieldia
Species:
H. kingii
Binomial name
Horsfieldia kingii
(Hook. f.) Warb.[1]
Synonyms
  • Myristica kingii[2]
  • H. hainanensis[3]
  • H. tetratepala[3]

Horsfieldia kingii is a dioecious tree of the family Myristicaceae. It grows up to 20 m tall[4] and has large seeds that are dispersed by frugivores such as hornbills and imperial pigeons.[5] The fruiting period is from February to May.[6] The fruit is an arillate capsule and is bi-coloured.[5]

The plant is referred to as ramtamul in Assamese language and is sometimes used as a substitute for betelnut. However, they could be mildly intoxicating to humans.[4] The leaves form a part of the diet of the endangered capped langur.[7]

References

  1. Horsfieldia kingii at the International Plant Names Index accessible online
  2. Hooker, JD (1886) Flora of British India 5:106
  3. 3.0 3.1 "The Plant List". http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2853509. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Chaudhuri, AB (1993) Forest Plants of Eastern India APH Publishing p. 434
  5. 5.0 5.1 Aparajita Datta & Rawat, GS (2008) Dispersal modes and spatial patterns of tree species in a tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, Mongabay.com Open Access Journal - Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 1(3):163-185 PDF
  6. Nandini Velho (2008) The effect of terrestrial rodents on seed fate of hornbill-dispersed plants in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Unpublished MSc Thesis Manipal University. pp. 81 PDF
  7. Kumar, A & Solanki, GS (2008) Population Status and Conservation of Capped Langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus) in and around Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Primate Conservation (23): 97–105 PDF

Wikidata ☰ Q3336447 entry