Machilus

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Machilus
M thunbergii.JPG
Machilus thunbergii leaves, also known as Persea thunbergii
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Machilus
Nees
Species

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Machilus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae. It is found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical forest, occurring in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indochina, the Indian subcontinent, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. [1]

Contents

Its delimitation versus the closely related avocados (genus Persea ) has been disputed, with some Persea species such as coyo (P.schiedeana) sometimes placed in Machilus, or all of Machilus being included in Persea. [2] As circumscribed here – distinct from Persea but excluding American species –Machilus currently includes about 100 species. [3]

Description

Machilus are evergreen trees or shrubs, [3] some species growing as much as 30 m tall. Their entire, pinnately veined leaves are alternately borne along the stems. Their bisexual flowers are borne in inflorescences that are usually paniculate, terminal, subterminal, or arising from near base of branchlets, with long peduncles or rarely without peduncles. Perianth tubes are short; perianth lobes 6 in 2 series, equal, subequal, or occasionally outer ones conspicuously smaller than inner ones, usually persistent, rarely deciduous. Fertile stamens 9 in 3 series, anthers 4-celled, 1st and 2nd series of stamens eglandular, anthers introrse, 3rd series of stamens glandular, anthers extrorse or lateral, glands stipitate to sessile. Staminodes in 4th series, sagittate. Ovary sessile; stigmas small, dish-shaped or capitate. Fruits are fleshy, globose, rarely ellipsoid or oblong, subtended at base by persistent and reflexed perianth lobes; the fruiting pedicel does not become enlarged.

Species

The genus includes the following species: [1]

Machilus yunnanensis, also known as Persea yunnanensis Machilus yunnanensis - Kunming Botanical Garden - DSC02971.JPG
Machilus yunnanensis, also known as Persea yunnanensis
M. obovatifolia. Leaf obovate or ovate-elliptic is the main feature of M. obovatifolia among Machilus. Endemic to Taiwan. Dao Luan Xie Nan Machilus obovatifolia 20210608151722 07.jpg
M. obovatifolia. Leaf obovate or ovate-elliptic is the main feature of M. obovatifolia among Machilus. Endemic to Taiwan.
M. kusanoi. The height of the tree and the large leaves are the obvious characteristics of M. kusanoi in the same genus. Endemic to Taiwan. Da Xie Nan Machilus kusanoi 20220210142904 12.jpg
M. kusanoi. The height of the tree and the large leaves are the obvious characteristics of M. kusanoi in the same genus. Endemic to Taiwan.

References

  1. 1 2 Machilus Nees. Plants of the World Online , Kew Science. Accessed 21 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Tropicos.org".
  3. 1 2 Shugang Li; Xi-wen Li; Jie Li; Puhua Huang; Fa-Nan Wei; Hongbin Cui; Henk van der Werff. "Machilus Rumphius ex Nees in Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 61, 70. 1831". Flora of China.
  4. 1 2 Mase, K., Tagane, S., Chhang, P., & Yahara, T. (2020). A Taxonomic Study of Machilus (Lauraceae) in Cambodia based on DNA Barcodes and Morphological Observations. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica, 71(2), 79–101.
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