Mastixiodendron Melch.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A genus of seven species from North Maluku through to Fiji. Three species occur on mainland New Guinea: Mastixiodendron pachyclados (K.Schum.) Melch., and the endemics M. plectocarpum S.P.Darwin and M. smithii Merr. & L.M.Perry. A fourth species, M. stoddardii Merr. & L.M.Perry, occurs in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands.

Morphology General Habit

Trees to 40(–55) m, may be buttressed, rarely shrubs; bark pustulate to minutely fissured, flaking or peeling, bark slash often darkening on exposure to air

Morphology General

Raphides present

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules large and coriaceous, caducous, leaving notable scars

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with strong venation, usually coriaceous occasionally chartaceous (M. stoddardii)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary thyrses with four bracts at first node of branching and 2 bracteoles at subsequent nodes, each branch terminating in a dichasium, bracts sometimes caducous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous (rarely 5-merous); valvate and often 4-angled in bud; corolla lobes free, fleshy, papillate to pilose inside, glabrous to densely puberulent outside; disk present; ovary 2-locular, inferior to ¾ superior, ovules solitary, pendulous; style often caducous, stigma usually shallowly bifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent, often 1-locular by abortion, elongate, apices rounded to pointed; white or green ripening to yellow or black.

Ecology

Often large trees found in a variety of habitats from lowland to montane primary and disturbed forests and on a variety of substrates, occasionally found in seasonally inundated forest.

Recognition

The genus is unusual for the family with its free petals, large ficus-like stipules which fall to leave notable scars and some species with a semi-inferior ovary (see Darwin 1977). The bark is often flaky or fissured and the slash often darkens on exposure to air (but there is no sap) and the flowers are often distinctly 4-angled in bud, and the fruit are elongated drupes with rounded to pointed apices (sometimes looking semi-superior).