Bouea macrophylla - Setar

Bouea macrophylla, commonly known as buah kundang hijau, asam kundang, or setar in Malay, is a fruit belongs to the Anacadiaceae family.

It is native to the Malesia archipelago, but is not widely grown. 

The green mature fruit is eaten fresh, usually with soy source and chili, or used in fruit salad ( rojak ).  It is also pickled in syrup as jeruk.   Ripened fruit is yellowish in colour, also eaten fresh.

Codiaeum variegatum : Forms & Sizes

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume, commonly known as “croton”, is an ornamental shrub that originates in tropical forests.

A wide range of variations in leaf shape and coloration has fascinated breeders, landscapers, horticulturists and gardeners, and a huge number of cultivars have been fixed for commercial production. More than 300 cultivars are available in the ornamental horticulture industry.

Diversity in croton’s leaf-shape is quite enormous. The leaf shapes include ovate to linear, entire to deeply lobed, appendiculateat the middle connected by midrib. Coloration and color pattern on the leaves is also a prominent characteristic to distinguish each cultivar.

The phenotypic diversity observed in croton leaves is of a great interest in plant science because virtually all types of leaf morphology can be seen in one species; the plasticity in leaf phenotype is extremely high.

It appears that genetic instability is associated with the leaf phenotypic diversity. Somatic mutations and/or cross pollination by ants may be involved in the mechanism for creating such high diversity. 

A high variation in chromosome numbers and karyotypes may attribute to the morphological diversity among the cultivars of this species.

Croton cultivars can be devided into groups based on leaf types:

1.  Slender

2. Oval

3. Curly

4. Lobed

5. Interrupted

  

Source:

Mollick A.S, et al., 2011, Croton Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume cultivars characterized by leaf phenotypic parameters, Scientia Horticulturae Volume 132, 5 December 2011, Pages 71-79.

The Four Tribes of Malvoideae

Subfamily Malvoideae now comprises the traditional Malvaceae and has consistently emerged as a very homogeneous, monophyletic group. In a recent treatment of Malvoideae, Bayer and Kutbitzki (2003) divide the subfamily into four tribes: Gossypieae, Hibisceae, Kydieae, and Malveae.

The Malvoideae can be further ranked into the tribes listed below:

Malvoideae Tribes

Tribe Gossypieae

Tribe Gossypieae has been redifined to include eight genera: Gossypium, Cephalohibiscus, Cienfuegosia, Hampea, Kokia, Gossypioides, Lebronnecia and Thespesia. It is specifically separated from the Hibisceae tribe based on embryo structure and the presence of pigment glands. These glands are associated with the capacity to synthesize the pigment gossypol. The Gossypieae appear to be unique in possessing these glands and this capacity.

More than 50 species of Gossypium are distributed in arid to semi-arid regions of the tropics and subtropics. Of these, four species were independently domesticated for their fiber (cotton) in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Gossypium species exhibit extraordinary morphological variation, with a diverse array of characteristics, ranging from trailing herbaceous perennials to 15m tall trees.

Tribe Hibisceae

Tribe Hibisceae is best known for its largest genus, Hibiscus — one of the world's most popular horticultural plant genera — which includes more than 300 species worldwide. The tribe Hibisceae includes (but is not limited to) :  Abelmoschus, Hibiscadelphus, Hibiscus, Kosteletzkya, Malvaviscus, Pavonia, Radyera, Talipariti and Wercklea.

Tribe Kydieae

0 references

Tribe Malveae

Tribe Malveae includes approximately 70 genera (1000 species) that encompass the majority of the morphological and taxonomic diversity in the Malvoideae subfamily. The genera of Malveae exhibit a broad geographic distribution, with representatives in both tropic and temperate areas in a variety of habitats. Around 15 of the 70 Malveae genera have mostly temperate distributions, while some of the largest genera in the tribe (Abutilon, Sida, Nototriche) have primarily tropical distributions.

The Nine Subfamilies of Malvaceae

The Malvaceae family presents many challenges for taxonomists. Opinions often differ as where to draw the lines between species, between genera, between tribes and between the subfamilies. This is not surprising — the Malvaceae family encompasses over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species!

In terms of number of species, the largest genera include Hibiscus (~300 species), Sterculia (~250 species), Dombeya (~225 species), Pavonia (~200 species) and Sida (~200 species).

In recent years an expanded circumscription of the Malvaceae family has been created, which is composed of nine subfamilies. The relationships between these subfamilies are still obscure, and the subject of ongoing discussion. The traditional Malvaceae have been moved to Malvoideae, the subfamily that now approximately corresponds to that group.

The Nine Subfamilies of Malavacae

1. Bombacoideae (formerly Bombacaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~120 species).

2. Brownlowioideae,  8 genera, (~70 species).

3. Byttnerioideae, 26 genera, (~650 species).

4. Dombeyoideae, ~20 genera, (~380 species).

5. Grewioideae, 25 genera, (~770 species).

6. Helicteroideae, 8 to 12 genera, 10 to 90 species.

7. Sterculioideae, (formerly Sterculiaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~430 species).

8. Tilioideae, (formerly Tiliaceae, in part) 3 genera, (~50 species).

9. Malvoideae, (formerly Malvaceae), 78 genera, (~1,600 species). 

Cassia x nealiae

The rainbow shower tree is actually a sterile hybrid of two Cassia species.   In Honolulu, it became so widely cultivated that the multicolored cultivar “Wilhelmina Tenney” was declared the official tree of the City and County of Honolulu in 1965.

The original hybrid cross was done in Hawaii around 1916 by David Haughs. 

The tree is scientifically named Cassia x nealiae honoring Marie C. Neal.  She was a well-known Hawaiian botanist and author of botanical reference book, “In Gardens of Hawaii.”  In her 1928 original and her 1965 revision, she refers to the rainbow shower as the cross Cassia javanica x C. fistula.

Her propagation advice is that it is best done by cross-pollinating blossoms of the pink-and-white shower tree with blossoms of the golden shower tree and using seeds from the resulting cross.   

Four distinct color variants have resulted from the original cross, they include ones that are predominantly yellow, white or gold as well as “Wilhelmena Tenny,” which produces the streaked yellow and cerise flowers. The flowers on the rainbow trees are produced on long pendulant racemes that appear on branches that bear stems of inch-long dark green leaflets.

Rainbow shower trees can tolerate many soil types but prefer to grow in soil that drains well. The tree is fairly drought tolerant and can make a nice addition to a xeriscape garden. It is not, however, very salt or wind tolerant, so should be grown away from the ocean and in areas of low wind.

Bawang Dayak - Eleutherine bulbosa

Eleutherine bulbosa is an herbaceous, perennial flowering plant species in the iris family (Iridaceae) , first described as a genus in 1843.  The generic name derived from the Greek word eleuthera, meaning "free".

It is known as Bawang Dayak in Sarawak, Bawang Sabrang ( Indonesia ), Babawangan ( Sunda )

Synonyms

Bermudiana bulbosa, B. congesta.

Cipura plicata.

Eleutherine americana, E.anomala, E. longifolia, E. plicata, E. plicata, E. subaphylla,

Ferraria parviflora..

Galatea Americana, G bulbosa, G plicata,  

Ixia americana.

Sisyrinchium americanum,  S. bulbosum, S. capitatum, S. congestum, S. elatum, S. latifolium. S. palmifolium var. congestum, S. plicatum, S.racemosum

Origin & Distribution

The plant is originated from tropical America, but now is widely cultivated South East Asia.

Description

E. bulbosa is a berbaceous plant capable to grow up to 40cm in height.

The stem is erect or drooping, subterranean, elongated ovoid and red in colour.

The leaves ae radial, lanceolate, glabrous, measure 25-60cm x 1.2-5cm.

The flower are white or yellow in colour and open in the evening for 2 hours.

Etnobotany

Eleutherine bulbosa is an important element of the American Indian pharmacopeia. 

In SE Asia Eleutherine bulbosa is used as carminative, together with galangal it can treat cold and nasal congestion in children.  In Dayak tribe, it is used the bulb for increasing breast-milk production as well as treatment of diabetes, breast cancer, stroke, hypertension and sexual disorder.  In other areas it is found to treat coronary disorder, and used as diuretic, emetic, purgative, prothrombin decreasing, antifertility, anti-hipertension, wound-healing activity.

人生果实

人生果实 人生フルーツ (2017)

风吹枯叶落

落叶生肥土

肥土丰香果

孜孜不倦 不紧不慢

导演: 伏原健之

主演: 津端修一 / 津端英子 / 树木希林

类型: 纪录片

官方网站: life-is-fruity.com

制片国家/地区: 日本

语言: 日语

上映日期: 2017-01-02(日本)

片长: 91分钟

又名: 积存时间的生活(台) / 人生水果 / Life Is Fruity

IMDb链接: tt6161512

剧情简介 · · · · · ·

　　一部极其感人的纪录电影《积存时间的生活》，日本导演伏原健之拍摄，由日本影后树木希林担任旁白，日本现代陶渊明津端夫妇生活纪录片。藉由津端修一夫妇丰富的生活阅历，一幢深居林间的小屋，探索那些深藏于时间长河中的真正瑰宝。

　　一部极其感人的纪录电影，由新闻工作出身的日本导演伏原健之拍摄，他在三顾茅庐后，终以四封信获得隐居山林建筑师津端修一与英子夫妇点头「我们愿意协助」，开始著手拍摄这部电影。

　　一幢深居林间的小屋，位于日本高藏寺新城的一隅。那是建筑师津端修一、按著其师安东尼雷蒙德自豪的木造住宅所建成的。一年四季景緻万千，庭园栽植的上百种蔬果，经由其妻英子的巧手都成了道道佳餚。不论烹饪、裁缝、耕作，没有一样能难得倒她。他们的家居处处充满体贴与用心，印证建筑大师科比意的名言「房子该是生活的藏宝盒」。

　　津端修一曾任日本住宅公团首席建筑师，60年代便提出保留树林为风开道的理念，希望新的建案都能开始与自然共生，却不为当时以发展经济优先的政策所採纳，徒成一片片了无生气的集合住宅。他于是改从自身做起，不仅放下繁忙工作，并在住宅区购入土地、盖起房屋也种植了林木。在历经半世纪的时光后，两夫妇的勤奋与优雅，果然为这片淨土栽下了无数珍宝...

Alstonia in Malesia

Alstonia is a widespread genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, of the dogbane plant family Apocynaceae.  It consists of about 40-60 species, native to tropical and subtropical Africa, Central America, southeast Asia, Polynesia and Australia.

Nomeclature¹

Alstonia was named by Robert Brown in 1811, after Charles Alston (1685–1760), a professor of botany at Edinburgh from 1716-1760.

Description¹

The leathery, sessile, simple leaves are elliptical, ovate, linear or lanceolate and wedge-shaped at the base. The leaf blade is dorsiventral, medium-sized to large and disposed oppositely or in a whorl and with entire margin. The leaf venation is pinnate, with numerous veins ending in a marginal vein.  Phyllotaxy is whorled i.e. two or more leaves arises at a node and form a whorl.

The inflorescence is terminal or axillary, consisting of thyrsiform cymes or compound umbels. The small, more or less fragrant flowers are white, yellow, pink or green and funnel-shaped, growing on a pedicel and subtended by bracts. They consist of 5 petals and 5 sepals, arranged in four whorls. The fertile flowers are hermaphrodite.

Sections^1&2

Alstonia has 5 distinct sections, each a monophyletic group; Alstonia ( including Winchia ), Blaberopus, Tonduzia. Monuraspermum, and Dissuraspermum.

Species of the section Memuraspermum have no latex in the trunk bark, in contrast to the species of section Alstonia, where latex may be observed in all parts of the plant.

The leaves of Alstonia are opposite or whorled.  Opposite leaves are found in most species of Dissuraspermum.  Worled leaves are found in the other sections.

   

Distribution³

Alstonia species native to Malay Archipelago :

A. angustifolia A.DC. - Borneo, Malaya, Sumatra

A. angustiloba Miq. - Borneo, Malaya, Sumatra, Thailand, Java

A. curtisii King & Gamble - Thailand

A. glancescens Guillaumin - New Caledonia

A. macrophylla Wall. ex G.Don –  S China, Sri Lanka, SE Asia, New Guinea

A. neriifolia D.Don - Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan

A. parvifolia Merr. - Philippines

A. penangiana K.Sidiyasa - Penang Hill

A. pneumatophore Backer ex L.G.Den Berger - Malaya, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra

A. rupestris Kerr - Thailand

A. scbolaris (L.) R.Br.  - E+S+SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia

A. spatulata Blume - SE Asia, New Guinea

A. spectabilis R.Br.  - SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia

Conservation⁴

Alstonia trees are widespread and mostly not endangered.

Endangered : A. annamensis …

Vulnerable : A. penangiana, A. beatricis, A, breviloba, Al rubiginosa …

Least Concern : A. angustifolia, A. macrophylla, A. pneumatophore, A. rupestris, A. scholaris, A. spatulata, A. spectabilis …

Source:

1. Wikipedia

2. Kade Sidiyasa, 1998, Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Wood Anatomy of Alstonia

3. Joseph Monachino, 1949, A Revision of the Genus Alstonia, PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. III. April 1949

4. IUCN Red List

Acaciella angustissima

Acaciella angustissima ( white ball acacia) is a highly variable perennial shrub native to subtropical and tropical America.

Nomeclature

The name Acaciella is diminutive of the genus Acacia. 

Angustissima is the ablative feminine singular of angustissimus, which means narrowest or very narrow, depicting its narrow leaflets.

Varieties

● Acaciella angustissima var. angustissima (Mill.) Britton & Rose

● Acaciella angustissima var. chisosiana Isely

● Acaciella angustissima var. filicioides (Cav.) L. Rico

● Acaciella angustissima var. hirta (Torrey & A.Gray) Robinson

● Acaciella angustissima var. shrevei (Britton & Rose) Isely

● Acaciella angustissima var. suffrutescens (Rose) Isely

● Acaciella angustissima var. texensis (Torrey & A.Gray) Isely

Synonyms

● Acacia angulosa Bertol.

● Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze

● Acacia elegans M.Martens & Galeotti[2]

● Acacia filicina Willd.

● Acacia filicioides (Cav.) Trel.

● Acacia glabrata Schltdl.

● Acacia hirsuta Schltdl.

● Acacia insignis M. Martens & Galeotti

● Acacia pittieriana Standl.

● Acacia villosa (Sw.) Willd.

● Acaciella angulosa (Bertol.) Britton & Rose

● Acaciella costaricensis Britton & Rose

● Acaciella holtonii Britton & Killip

● Acaciella martensis Britton & Killip

● Acaciella rensonii Britton & Rose

● Acaciella santanderensis Britton & Killip

● Acaciella villosa (Sw.) Britton & Rose

● Mimosa angustissima Mill.

● Mimosa filicioides Cav.

● Mimosa ptericina Poir.

History

1768 - first described as Mimosa angustissima.

1896 - transferred to the genus Acacia by Kuntze.

1928 - Britton and Rose proposed a new genus Acaciella

2006 - Rico Arce and Bachman confirmed the genus Acaciella.  

15 species described in America.

Description

Acaciella angustissima is morphologically highly variable.

The following description is of the typical form of the species ( A. angustissima var. angustissima), which was described by  Rico Arce and Bachman in 2006 :

A thornless shrub or small tree usually growing 2–7 m tall with a single short trunk. However, it may very rarely reach up to 12 m in height.

Its younger stems are hairless or finely hairy and are usually somewhat striate

The leaves are bipinnate, 10–21 cm long, and usually have 10–17 pairs of pinnae.  They are borne on stalks 1.2–3.5 cm long that are sparsely strigulose. The pinnae are 2.5–5 cm long and each bears 20–40 pairs of leaflets. These relatively narrow leaflets are small (2.4–5 mm long and 0.5–2 mm wide) with pointed tips and entire margins.

Stipules are inconspicuous (2–2.5 mm long).

The whitish flower clusters are globular or ellipsoidal in shape (1–1.5 cm across) and are actually short head-like racemes. They are borne on short peduncles (1–1.5 cm long) and arranged in axillary fascicles, which may sometimes be arranged into larger panicle-like inflorescences.

The flat, thin-walled, papery, pods are oblong in shape (3–9 cm long and 6–15 mm wide) with straight or sinuate margins. They are initially green (Figure 5), but turn coffee-brown when ripe. These glabrous pods are acute at the base and apex, with a stipe 7–12 mm long and a beak 2–7 mm long.

Each pod contains 8–12 circular seeds 2.5–3.2 mm across. These seeds are arranged transversely in the pod and are clearly separated from each other. Seed production is prolific. Seed weight is 90 000–100 000 seeds/kg.