Hernandia nymphaeifolia
| Hernandia nymphaeifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Hernandiaceae |
| Genus: | Hernandia |
| Species: | H. nymphaeifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Hernandia nymphaeifolia (Presl.) Kubitzki 1970 | |
Hernandia nymphaeifolia is a species of plant in the Hernandiaceae family. Its common name is Lantern Tree.
Description
Hernandia nymphaeifolia is a tree with 5–22 m high. The leaves are narrowly or broadly ovate or subcircular. The 5-9 veins are palmate. The flowers are white or greenish, hermaphrodite, with fragant odour; male and female are separated. The fruit is fleshy, waxy red or white.[1]
Distribution and Ecology
This species occurs throughout the tropics (Duyfjes 1996) exclusively in coastal areas: along the sea-shore in littoral forest and in coastal swamps. Fujita (1991) lists H.nymphaeifolia as being seed dispersed by the Marianas flying fox in the Mariana Islands.[2]
Uses
H. nymphaeifolia has a light, perishable wood. It has been used in South Pacific islands for fishing rods, fish net floats, wooden sandals, fan handles, drawing boards, canoe accessories, furniture and firewood, etc. A woody layer surrounds the seed of the lantern tree fruit. The Tahaitians polish the round brown seeds to a high gloss and fashion them into necklaces. The Marshallese bathe children in a healing bath made from H. nymphaeifolia leaves and relieve headaches with a preparation from other tree parts. The effect of lignanes from this species on Ca2+ signaling in human neutrophils has been studied.[3]
External links
References
- ↑ THREATENED SPECIES OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. Hernandia nymphaeifolia
- ↑ http://batplants.co.uk/lantern.htm
- ↑ Novel action of lignans isolated from Hernandia nymphaeifoliaon . Archives of Toxicology Volume 75, Numbers 11-12, 695-702, doi:10.1007/s00204-001-0294-6