Thymelaeaceae

Gonystylus Teijsm. & Binn.

First published in Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 20: 265 (1862)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Nicobar Islands to SW. Pacific.

Descriptions

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

Distribution
A genus of about 20 species with a range from penninsular Malaysia to Fiji and the greatest diversity in Borneo. A single species in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands: Gonystylus macrophyllus (Miq.) Airy Shaw.
Morphology General Habit
Trees and shrubs to 45 m tall
Morphology General Indumentum
Indumentum tomentose or sericeous on young parts and lower midribs, otherwise glabrous. Leaves alternate, petiolate, coriaceous (in New Guinea), pellucid dots usually present, intramarginal vein present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences usually terminal, thyrsoid or paniculate with a long main axis and the lateral branches of condensed racemes or fascicles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 5-merous, long pedicellate; perianth tube usually cupular, persistent in fruit; perianth lobes (4–)5, about half the length of the tube; petaloid appendages 8–40, attenuate; stamens 8–80, free, inserted at the base of the perianth tube; ovary 5–7-locular, style filiform, longer than the perianth tube, simple (in New Guinea), stigma punctate to capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 2–5-valved dehiscent or indehiscent capsule with fibrous mesocarp
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1–5 (usually 2), glabrous.
Ecology
Found in primary forests from sea level to 600 m.
Recognition
Gonystylus is the only Thymelaeaceae genus in New Guinea which can be a large canopy tree (the other genera are small trees and shrubs). The genus can be recognised by the alternate, coriaceous leaves (with pellucid dots), the inflorescence with a long main axis (not umbels or heads as in the other New Guinea Thymelaeaceae genera), and the perianth tube which is more cupular than tubular. In New Guinea the fruit is globose and indehiscent and the perianth lobes are visible beneath. The flower buds are described as being a silvery-grey in the field on account of the silky hairs.
[TONG]

Common Names

unknown
bidaru, mavota, ramin

Sources

  • EBC Common Names

    • Common Names from Kew's Economic Botany Collection https://www.kew.org/science/collections-and-resources/collections/economic-botany-collection

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • 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

  • Wood Anatomy Microscope Slides

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/