Polyalthia cerasoides (?) from Hooghly

[surajit koley]

Sir / Madam,

The book "Plant Groups" (by H. Mukherji) mentions one Annonaceae member as Polyalthia cerasoides Benth. & Hook.

I searched the net to obtain more info -

1. Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Bedd. and its synonyms - http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-1600007
2. Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Bedd. + synonyms + distribution - http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?29196
3. description of Polyalthia cerasoides - http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=600&taxon_id=200008574
4. pictures of  Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Bedd. - http://www.biotik.org/laos/species/p/polce/polce_en.html
5. more pics of the above - http://showyourplant.com/Polyalthia_cerasoides/

Confusion may arise from -

• "......  As per recent books  on web and Flora of Mah., the bark of Milliusa tomentosa is described as blackish brown which seems to match with what I saw more  than that of of polyalthia cerasoides (light grey bark) and Milliusa velutina (dark grey bark). ...." - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!search/Polyalthia$20cerasoides/indiantreepix/Xz8qFu6cF-Y/X7La2OlcVU8J
• acuminate leaf apex as in - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!search/Polyalthia$20cerasoides/indiantreepix/Xz8qFu6cF-Y/X7La2OlcVU8J and - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!search/Polyalthia$20cerasoides/indiantreepix/nzVqujor9T4/xn0trOCfSBUJ

But, according to Flora of China = ".... base broadly cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse...." = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=600&taxon_id=200008574

Probability of Miliusa tomentosa can be ignored, because - 

1. http://www.ephotocorp.com/lightbox/index/detail/3108/ripe,-fruit,-fruits,-miliusa-t.html
   
2. https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!topic/indiantreepix/a6jpMVw1zds
   
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/5657016936/
4. https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!topic/indiantreepix/QC8QiWhqP5I
   
5. https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!searchin/indiantreepix/Saccopetalum$20tomentosum/indiantreepix/6mVWMpnifDY/gHFsBSRbHxMJ
   

Probability of Miliusa velutina can also be ignored -

1. http://www.plantes-botanique.org/espece_Miliusa_velutina
   
2. http://web3.dnp.go.th/botany/detail.aspx?wordsnamesci=Miliusa0velutina0(Dunal)0Hook.0f.0and0Thomson
   
3. http://www.qsbg.org/Database/Botanic_Book%20full%20option/Search_detail.asp?Botanic_ID=1500
   

So, the plant in this post is likely to be -

Species : Polyalthia cerasoides Benth. & Hook.

Habit & Habitat : roadside tree or shrub, 6 feet high, probably trimmed by someone or something

Date : 12/7/12, 9.41 a.m.

Place : Hooghly

Thank you & Regards,

Surajit Koley

[Vijayasankar]

Very well researched, Surajit ji.
But, I think, the posted pictures are not of Polyalthia cerasoides.
Please check for P. suberosa. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008588

 

Regards 

 

Vijayasankar Raman
National Center for Natural Products Research
University of Mississippi

[surajit koley]

Good morning / evening Vijayasankar Ji...

It turns out that very well played but returned scoring a duck :D

Thank you for the correct ID, it explains the problem i faced with the bark colour. Description of flower also matches.

Found in the group - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!search/Polyalthia$20suberosa/indiantreepix/rvWS_L1d7RY/jvvzuChnmIwJ. But, this post at - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!search/Polyalthia$20suberosa/indiantreepix/EowgFjyRiGw/b8gDe_v5rkgJ may need a revisit.

Regards,

Surajit Koley

[kamasani narasimhareddy]

Dear Surajit ji,

I agree with Dr. Vijayasankar comments. See the monocarps description.

K.N. Reddy

Research Scientist

[surajit koley]

Sir,

Thank you for confirming the ID. I do agree fully with Vijayasankar Ji's or your view on this plant, it is Polyalthia suberosa.

Regards,

Surajit Koley

[Saroj Kumar Kasaju]

Nepali Name : बन सुपाडी  Ban Supaadee

Thank you

Saroj Kasaju