Cerbera | |
---|---|
Cerbera manghas | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Subfamily: | Rauvolfioideae |
Tribe: | Plumerieae |
Subtribe: | Thevetiinae |
Genus: | Cerbera L., 1753 [1] |
Type species | |
Cerbera manghas L., 1753 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Cerbera is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs, native to tropical Asia, Australia, Madagascar, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. [2] [3]
Three trees of this genus are mangroves, Cerbera floribunda , Cerbera manghas and Cerbera odollam .
They are perennial trees or shrubs growing up 30 m (98 ft) high, the branches with conspicuous leaf scars. The leaves are spirally arranged and crowded towards the ends of the branches. Each has up to 30 lateral veins that may be straight or upcurved, at 50 to 90 degrees to the midrib. All parts produce a white sticky latex. [2] [3] [4] : 570 [5] : 7
The inflorescences are terminal with long peduncles, flowers are carried on short pedicels. Sepals are mostly free and usually pale green, the corolla is white, with a red, pink, yellow or white centre. Flowers are 5–merous and actinomorphic, i.e. they are symmetric and can be divided in equal halves along any diameter. [2] [3] [4] : 570 [5] : 7
The fruit are ellipsoid drupes containing one or two seeds, and may be green, red, purple or blue. [2] [3] [4] : 570 [5] : 8
Cerbera was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in his work Species Plantarum , in which he described three species — C. manghas, C. thevetia and C. ahouai. Of these, only C. manghas is still included in Cerbera (the other two having been moved to other genera) and is considered to be the lectotype. [4] : 569
The genus is most closely related to Cerberiopsis Vieil. , Thevetia L. and Cascabela Raf. . [4] : 569
The genus is named after Cerberus, a three-headed dog in Greek mythology, because all the species are poisonous — they contain cerberin, a cardiac glycoside, a substance that blocks electric impulses in the body (including the beating of the heart). Therefore, it is advised to avoid using wood from Cerbera species due to their toxicity, and as their smoke may cause lethal poisoning.
The following is a list of all six species in this genus that are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of 6 September 2023 [update] [1]
Apocynaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison. Members of the family are native to the European, Asian, African, Australian, and American tropics or subtropics, with some temperate members. The former family Asclepiadaceae is considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae and contains 348 genera. A list of Apocynaceae genera may be found here.
Cerbera odollam is a tree species in the family Apocynaceae commonly known as the suicide tree or pong-pong. It bears a fruit known as othalanga whose seeds yield a potent poison called cerberin that has been used for trials by ordeal, suicide, and poisonings.
Excoecaria is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae, formally described by Linnaeus in 1759. The genus is native to the Old World Tropics.
Cascabela is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Cerbera manghas, commonly known as the sea mango, tangena or bintaro is a small evergreen coastal tree growing up to 12 metres (39 ft) tall. It is native to coastal areas in Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific islands. It is classified as one of the three species in the genus Cerbera that constitute mangroves.
Ochrosia is a genus of flowering plants, first described in 1789. It is in the family Apocynaceae, native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and various islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Cascabela thevetia is a poisonous plant native throughout Mexico and in Central America, and cultivated widely as an ornamental. It is a relative of Nerium oleander, giving it a common name yellow oleander.
Cerbera floribunda, commonly known as cassowary plum, grey milkwood, or rubber tree, is a plant in the family Apocynaceae which is native to the region from Sulawesi to the Solomon Islands, including north east Queensland.
Embelia is a genus of climbing shrubs once placed in the family Myrsinaceae, which is now included in the Primulaceae. There are about 130 species which occur in tropical and subtropical areas across a wide range including Africa and Madagascar and from eastern Asia to the Pacific Islands as well as Australia including:
Canscora is a genus 9 to 30 species of plants in the family Gentianaceae. Canscora is native to Africa, Asia and Australia. Some species are used medicinally.
Baissea is a genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae found in tropical Africa. As of August 2013 the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 18 species:
Holarrhena is a genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1810. It is native to tropical and southern Africa as well as south, east, and southeast Asia. As of August 2013 the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 5 species:
Pleiocarpa is a genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1876. It is native to tropical Africa from Senegal to Tanzania and south to Zimbabwe. As of August 2013 the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 6 species:
Voacanga is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae found in Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. As of August 2013 the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 13 species:
Odontadenia is a genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1841. It is native to southern Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies.
Nelsonia is a genus of plants in the family Acanthaceae. They can be found in tropical: Africa, Latin America, south-east Asia and Australia.
Cerbera inflata, commonly known as the cassowary plum, grey milkwood, Joojooga, or rubber tree, is a plant in the family Apocynaceae endemic to northeast Queensland, specifically the Atherton Tablelands and adjacent areas.
Thevetia ahouai is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela, and introduced to southeastern China. An evergreen shrub or small tree of forests reaching 3 m (10 ft), it is used as a street tree in Nicaragua and Colombia.