Phyllanthaceae

Bischofia Blume

First published in Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 1168 (1827)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical Asia to S. Pacific.

Descriptions

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit
Dioecious or rarely monoecious trees with a simple (localized) indumentum
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, long-petiolate, stipulate, 3(–5)-foliolate, the leaflets petiolulate, crenate-serrate, penninerved; stipules readily caducous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, paniculate, solitary, many-flowered; bracts 1-flowered, those subtending ♀ flowers readily caducous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Male flowers pedicellate; sepals 5, imbricate, strongly concave, cucullate, later reflexed; petals 0; disc 0; stamens 5, episepalous, free, filaments short, anthers basifixed, bilobate, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode peltate, infundibuliform, pentagonal, shortly stipitate Female flowers pedicellate; sepals 5, imbricate, flat, not cucullate, soon caducous; petals 0; disc 0; staminodes minute or 0; ovary 3(–4)-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; styles 3(–4), slightly connate at the base, undivided, filiform, spreading, the adaxial stigmatic surface running the length of the arms
sex Male
Male flowers pedicellate; sepals 5, imbricate, strongly concave, cucullate, later reflexed; petals 0; disc 0; stamens 5, episepalous, free, filaments short, anthers basifixed, bilobate, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode peltate, infundibuliform, pentagonal, shortly stipitate
sex Female
Female flowers pedicellate; sepals 5, imbricate, flat, not cucullate, soon caducous; petals 0; disc 0; staminodes minute or 0; ovary 3(–4)-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; styles 3(–4), slightly connate at the base, undivided, filiform, spreading, the adaxial stigmatic surface running the length of the arms
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a small depressed-globose indehiscent drupe; mesocarp fleshy; endocarp thin, horny
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 3–6, oblong, ecarunculate; testa horny; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.
[FTEA]

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

Distribution
A small genus of two species with one in China and the other widespread and distributed from India to the Pacific including New Guinea: Bischofia javanica Blume.
Morphology General Habit
Tree to 40 m in New Guinea, deciduous (flowering when in young leaf), latex red Plants dioecious
Morphology General Indumentum
Hairs simple
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules falcate, early caducous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, compound, 3-foliolate (to 5-imparipinnate), usually crowded at end of branchlets, leaflets symmetric, margins serrate, venation penninerved; petiole relatively long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary to pseudo-terminal, paniculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers with abscission zone on the pedicel; sepals 5, free; petals and disk absent Staminate flowers: sepals hooded around stamens when young, reflexing, valvate; stamens 5, episepalous, filament short, anthers large, connective narrow; pistillode present, 5-lobed. Pistillate flowers: sepals imbricate, flat; staminodes absent or caducous; ovary 3(4)-locular, style short, stigmas long, simple
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit drupaceous, (sub)globose, smooth, mesocarp fleshy, endocarp woody
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds obovoid, smooth.
Ecology
Bischofia is can be common in lowland areas, especially swampy rain forest and coastal areas which are damp, from sea level to 1600 m.
Recognition
The genus can be recognised by the habit being a large tree to 40 m, the red latex, the alternate, compound leaves with serrate margins, the staminate flowers with 5 stamens, and the drupaceous fruits which are borne on pendulous infructescences.
[TONG]

Sources

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0