Dysoxylum

• Authority

  Smith, Albert C. 1952. Studies of Pacific Island plants, X. The Meliaceae of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 30: 469-522.

• Family

  Meliaceae

• Scientific Name

  Dysoxylum

• Description

  Description - [No description provided.]

• Discussion

  Dysoxylum has traditionally been divided into two well-marked sections, Eudysoxylum and Diclymocheton, this arrangement having been accepted by C. de Candolle (in DC. Monogr. Phan. 1: 480-528. 1878). Both groups were originally proposed by Blume as genera, a separation which is maintained by Harms (in Nat. Pfl. 2. 19b1: 156-166. 1940) and a few other students of the family. The separation of the groups is based wholly upon characters of the calyx, which in Eudysoxylum proper is gamosepalous (but often deeply lobed) and in Didymochton composed of separate imbricate sepals. In the species of our region there is also a consistent difference in the indument of the fruit, stated in the key. However, except for the calycine differences the flowers of the two groups are fundamentally similar, with parallel series of variations. In the present paper the more comprehensive concept of Dysotrylurn is maintained, following most recent workers. In our area 13 species are recognizable, three of them being described as new.