Calophyllum

Calophyllum
flower of Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Clusiaceae Subfamily: Kielmeyeroideae Tribe: Calophylleae Genus: Calophyllum L.
Species
Calophyllum acutiputamen Calophyllum antillanum Calophyllum austroindicum Calophyllum bicolor Calophyllum bifurcatum Calophyllum biflorum Calophyllum blancoi Calophyllum bracteatum Calophyllum brasiliense Calophyllum brassii Calophyllum calaba Calophyllum caledonicum Calophyllum candidissimum Calophyllum canum Calophyllum caudatum Calophyllum chapelieri Calophyllum collinum Calophyllum confusum Calophyllum cordato-oblongum Calophyllum costatum Calophyllum cuneifolium Calophyllum dasypodum Calophyllum donatianum Calophyllum elatum Calophyllum euryphyllum Calophyllum exiticostatum Calophyllum ferrugineum Calophyllum flavo-ramulum Calophyllum floribundum Calophyllum fraseri Calophyllum garcinioides Calophyllum goniocarpum Calophyllum griseum Calophyllum havilandii Calophyllum heterophyllum Calophyllum hirasimum Calophyllum inophyllum Calophyllum insularum Calophyllum laticostatum Calophyllum leleanii Calophyllum longifolium Calophyllum lucidum Calophyllum macrophyllum Calophyllum molle Calophyllum mooni Calophyllum morobense Calophyllum neo-ebudicum Calophyllum novoguineense Calophyllum nubicola Calophyllum obscurum Calophyllum papuanum Calophyllum parvifolium Calophyllum pauciflorum Calophyllum peekelii Calophyllum persimile Calophyllum piluliferum Calophyllum pisiferum Calophyllum pulcherrimum Calophyllum retusum Calophyllum rigidum Calophyllum robustum Calophyllum rufinerve Calophyllum savannarum Calophyllum scriblitifolium Calophyllum sil Calophyllum soulattri Calophyllum streimannii Calophyllum sundaicum Calophyllum symingtonianum Calophyllum tahanense Calophyllum tetrapterum Calophyllum teysmannii Calophyllum thwaitesii Calophyllum tomentosum Calophyllum trapezifolium Calophyllum vexans Calophyllum vitiense Calophyllum waliense Calophyllum walkeri Calophyllum wallichianum Calophyllum woodii

Calophyllum ("beautiful leaf", from Greek kalos, "beautiful", and phullon, "leaf") is a plant genus of around 180-200 species of tropical evergreen trees in the family Clusiaceae. Its members are native to Australasia, Madagascar, Eastern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, the West Indies and Latin America. The common names, as well as commercial names, for these trees are:

• teitai (in Kiribati),
• Feta'u (in Tonga),^[1]
• Bintangor tree (in Malaysia) and
• Poon tree (in India),
• Guanandi, Jacareuba or Santa Maria (in Latin America).

For medicinal (folk medicine and ethnopharmacology) uses of leaves, oil from nuts and crost balsam,^{[clarification needed]} for HIV and AIDS, see calanolide A and calanolide B,^[2] Jacareubin,^[3] Tamanu oil,^[4] and Calophyllic acid.^[5] For medicinal use from their resin, see tacamahac.

Habitat

These species grow in a wide number of habitats, from ridges in mountain forests to coastal swamps, lowland forest and even coral cays. They are large hardwoods, attaining 30 m in height and 0.8 m in diameter. It presents shiny and leathery leaves. The tree bark is grey or white and decorticates in large thin strips. The wood is light in weight, the heartwood pink-red, or almost brown, while the sapwood varies from species to species, often from yellow, brown (often with pink tints) to orange. Species occurring in Papua New Guinea are often buttressed.

Uses

Several species have been found to contain naturally occurring calanolides in various quantities.^{[clarification needed]}

The lightweight hardwood of these species is used in boatmaking for masts and spars, as well as in luxury furniture and flooring.

Symbolism

The Calophyllum is a national symbol of the Pacific nation of Nauru, appearing on the national coat of arms.

leaves and fruits of Guanandi-Jacareuba, Calophyllum brasiliensis

Guanandi-Jacareuba Calophyllum brasiliensis crost

Flowers Calophyllum brasiliensis

Calophyllum brasiliensis leaves

See also

• Coat of arms of Nauru

References