• Source: Aleurites

Aleurites is a small genus of arborescent flowering plants in the Euphorbiaceae, first described as a genus in 1776. It is native to China, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Papuasia, and Queensland. It is also reportedly naturalized on various islands (Pacific and Indian Oceans, plus the Caribbean) as well as scattered locations in Africa, South America, and Florida.
These monoecious, evergreen trees are perennials or semiperennials. These are large trees, 15–40 m (49–131 ft) tall, with spreading, drooping, and rising branches.
The leaves are alternate, lobate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate with minute stipules. They are pubescent on both sides when young, but in a later stage they become glabrous.
The inflorescence consists of terminal plumes of small, creamy white, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers, branching from the base. The flowers are usually bisexual, with a solitary pistillate flower at the end of each major axis. The lateral cymes are staminate. There are five or six imbricate petals. The staminate flowers are mostly longer and thinner than the pistillate flowers, with 17–32 glabrous stamens in four whorls. The pistillate flowers have a superior ovary.
The fruits are rather large drupes with a fleshy exocarp and a thin, woody endocarp. They vary in shape, according to the numbers of developed locules. They contain oleiferous, poisonous seeds.
The oil has been used as a paraffin and lubricant, and as a constituent of varnish, paint, and soap. Once poisonous substances are removed, it can be used as a cooking oil.
Some deciduous Chinese species are now classified under a separate genus Vernicia.
The name Aleurites is derived from the Ancient Greek: ἄλευρον meaning "wheaten flour" or "ground meal", because of the appearance of the lower surface of the leaf.




Taxonomy and nomenclature


Linnaeus assigned the Latin feminine grammatical gender to the genus name Aleurites, as for example in the species name Aleurites moluccana. The current International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants has standardized all genus names ending in -ites to use the masculine gender, so the correct name of the species Aleurites moluccanus.




Species



Accepted species
The most widespread species is the candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus), occurring from tropical Asia and the Pacific, from India to China and Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. Some botanists only recognize two species, A. moluccanus and A. rockinghamensis.

Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd. – Indian walnut, candlenut tree, country walnut, aburagiri, ama - most of genus range
Aleurites rockinghamensis (Baill.) P.I.Forst. - Papua New Guinea, Queensland
formerly included
moved to other genera: Croton, Mallotus, Omphalea, Reutealis, Vernicia




References






Further reading


Stuppy, W.; P.C. van Welzen; P. Klinratana; M.C.T. Posa (1999). "Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae)". Blumea. 44: 73–98.




External links


Media related to Aleurites at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Aleurites at Wikispecies

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Kemiri
• Kemiri sunan
• Taman Nasional Baluran
• Hutan gugur daun tropis
• Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta
• Geringsing
• Daftar kata serapan dari bahasa Jawa Kuno dalam bahasa Indonesia
• Pasar Pundensari
• Mallotus
• Taman Nasional Bantimurung Bulusaraung
• Aleurites moluccanus
• Aleurites
• Aleurite
• Vernicia fordii
• Imshaugia aleurites
• Aleurites rockinghamensis
• Vernicia
• Candlenut oil
• Varnish tree
• Nut (fruit)