Bischofia javanica Blume

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree 4–15 m. tall, with a narrow crown and drooping branches; bark brown, slightly scaly; wood very soft.

Morphology Twigs

Twigs sparingly lenticellate; shoots, petioles and petiolules glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Petioles 9–17 cm. long, pulvinate at the base; median petiolules 3.5–5 cm. long, laterals 0.5–2 cm. long; leaflets 3(–5), elliptic-ovate to elliptic-obovate, (5–)7–14 cm. long, 3–9 cm. wide, the laterals slightly asymmetrical and smaller than the terminal, acutely or subacutely and often abruptly acuminate at apex, cuneate or rounded at base, crenate-serrate, firmly membranaceous to chartaceous, lateral nerves 7–9(–11), not or scarcely prominent above, slightly so beneath, weakly brochidodromous and reticulate towards the margin, tertiary nerves reticulate, glabrous above, sparingly puberulous at least along the midrib and otherwise ± glabrous beneath, dark green and somewhat shiny above, paler and duller beneath.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, 0.7–1 (–2) cm. long, acutely acuminate, entire, subglabrous, brown.

sex Male

Male panicles (9–)11–14(–20) cm. long; peduncles ± 2–2.5 cm. long; axis and rhachides sparingly minutely puberulous; bracts ovate, 1–2 mm. long, acute, brown. Male flowers:pedicels 2 mm. long, slender, articulate 1/3 up from the base, pubescent below the articulation, glabrous above it; sepals broadly elliptic, 2 mm. long, rounded, ciliolate, yellowish green; stamens 1.1 mm. long, anthers 0.9 mm. long and wide, yellow; pistillode 0.5 mm. high, 0.7 mm. across.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Female panicles somewhat larger (up to 27 cm. long), with the peduncles up to 7 cm. long. Male panicles (9–)11–14(–20) cm. long; peduncles ± 2–2.5 cm. long; axis and rhachides sparingly minutely puberulous; bracts ovate, 1–2 mm. long, acute, brown.

sex Female

Female panicles somewhat larger (up to 27 cm. long), with the peduncles up to 7 cm. long. Female flowers:pedicels (1–)2–4 mm. long, articulate, pubescent throughout, extending to 2 cm. long in fruit; sepals ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm. long, acute, subentire, sparingly puberulous without at the base, otherwise glabrous, pale green with white margins; ovary subglobose, 1–1.5 mm. in diameter, ± smooth, glabrous; style-arms (4–)5–6 mm. long, stigmas slightly papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers:pedicels (1–)2–4 mm. long, articulate, pubescent throughout, extending to 2 cm. long in fruit; sepals ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm. long, acute, subentire, sparingly puberulous without at the base, otherwise glabrous, pale green with white margins; ovary subglobose, 1–1.5 mm. in diameter, ± smooth, glabrous; style-arms (4–)5–6 mm. long, stigmas slightly papillose. Male flowers:pedicels 2 mm. long, slender, articulate 1/3 up from the base, pubescent below the articulation, glabrous above it; sepals broadly elliptic, 2 mm. long, rounded, ciliolate, yellowish green; stamens 1.1 mm. long, anthers 0.9 mm. long and wide, yellow; pistillode 0.5 mm. high, 0.7 mm. across.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 5–6 mm. in diameter, ± smooth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, smooth, somewhat shiny, yellowish brown.

Habitat

Cultivated in gardens and arboreta, becoming naturalized as an understorey tree in evergreen forest; 1550–1770 m.

Distribution

native from S. India eastwards to S. China and the Cook Is., occasionally cultivated elsewhere K4 K5

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Gene Sources

Used as gene sources.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Invertebrate Food

Used as invertebrate food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.