''Xylocarpus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of plants in the mahogany family

Meliaceae Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncarp ...

. It contains 3 described species, all of which are

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

s. The native range of the genus is the coasts of the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean. It is the only mangrove genus in Meliaceae.

Description

Members of this genus are semi-evergreen trees that grow on coastlines. They have compound leaves with usually between 2 and 4 pairs of

entire Entire may refer to: * Entire function, a function that is holomorphic on the whole complex plane * Entire (animal), an indication that an animal is not neutered * Entire (botany) This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions o ...

leaflets. The inflorescences are produced from the , flowers have a 4-lobed , four petals and eight stamens. The fruit are large, almost spherical capsules that contain up to 20 irregularly shaped seeds. The fruit hangs from the branch on its long peduncle before dehiscing and releasing the seeds.

Taxonomy

The genus was erected by the botanist

Johann Gerhard König Johann Gerhard König (29 November 1728 – 26 June 1785) was a Baltic Germans, Baltic German botanist and physician who served in the Tranquebar Mission, India before joining service under the Nawab of Arcot, and then the English East India Compan ...

in order to accommodate his newly-described species ''X. granatum''. The name is derived from the Greek words ''xylon'', meaning wood, and ''carpon'', meaning fruit, and is a reference to the large woody fruit. The size and shape of the fruit also give rise the common name "cannonball mangrove".

Species

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1932926 Mangroves Meliaceae genera Meliaceae