Calophyllum pauciflorum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calophyllum pauciflorum A.C. Smith

Protologue: Journ. Arn. Arb. 22: 348 (1941).

Distribution

New Guinea.

Uses

The timber is probably traded as "calophyllum". The wood is good as a green fuel.

Observations

• A fairly large, possibly dioecious tree up to 36 m tall, with bole up to 50 cm in diameter, without buttresses but sometimes fluted at base; twigs 4- or 6-angled, strongly flattened, terminal bud strongly flattened, 5-11 mm long.
• Leaves rhombiform, cuneiform, elliptical or obovate, 2.5-5.5(-9.5) cm long, cuneate at base, rounded or obtuse at apex, with 7-12 veins per 5 mm.
• Inflorescences usually axillary, unbranched, 3-5-flowered; flowers with (7-)8 tepals.
• Fruit spherical, 15-19 mm long, with thick, compact outer layer, greenish.

C. pauciflorum is closely related to C. papuanum and grows in montane forest, often dominated by Castanopsis and Nothofagus species, at 1550-2900 m altitude.

Selected sources

648, 702.

Main genus page

• Calophyllum

Authors

R.H.M.J. Lemmens (selection of species)