Volume 7 > Part 1 > Year 1999 > Page 196 > Sapindaceae > Dodonaea

Dodonaea viscosa Jacq.wfo-0000653170

Enum. Syst. Pl.: 19. 1760; Leenh., Blumea 28: 271. 1983 (see also for complete synonymy); Yap in Tree Fl. Mal. 4: 440. 1989; Leenh. in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat. 11: 526, fig. 24a, b. 1994. Fig. 3d. Fig. 11a, b; Plate VII: 2.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Shrubs to small trees up to 8 m high; bark reddish brown, smooth with fine ridges. Indumentum absent, glands present. Leaves elliptic to obovate, (5–)9–15 by (1.5–)2.5–4 cm, papyraceous to parchment-like; base long decurrent into petiole; apex rounded to shortly acuminate; glabrous to pilose, nerves ending free near margin, or joined. Inflorescences up to 3.5 cm long, glabrous. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 5–7, elliptic, ca 2.75 by 1.5–1.75 mm, leaving a strongly lobed scar under the fruit. Stamens 5–7, filaments ca 0.2 mm long, anthers ca 1.8 mm long. Ovary 2- (seldom 3-)locular. Fruits inflated, yellowish to light brown, 8–12 by 11–16 mm, hardly stipitate; wing (1–)2.5–4 mm wide in middle of fruit. Seeds ca 3 mm in diam.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Hadsai Ri, Ira ko), Rayong (Ko Samet); PENINSULAR: Chumphon (Ban Chung Maha), Phangnga (Khao Tung Nang Dam), Phuket (Ko Mak, Talang), Krabi (Boi Moi), Satun (La-ngu, Ko Terutao).

Distribution : Pantropical (Jamaica – type) and subtropical.

Ecology : Coastal vegetation on or behind sandy beaches or on limestone rocks, Barringtonia formation, Casuarina forests, also savannas and coconut plantations, sea level up to 90 m alt. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year. Pollination probably by wind, dispersal perhaps by wind or floating on water.

Vernacular : Chumhet le (ชุมเห็ดเล), mai khwat (ไม้ขวาด), tam sao nu (ตำเสาหนู)(Peninsular).

Uses: The wood is used for tool handles, firewood, walking sticks, turnery, and engraving; it is hard, tough and strong, but difficult to season due to splitting and cracking.