Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamk) A. Rich.ex Walp.

Family

Rubiaceae

Synonyms

Anthocephalus indicus A.Rich., Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq., Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser.

Vernacular Names

Geographical Distributions

Anthocephalus chinensis is distributed in Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Indo-China, southern China, Thailand, eastward through Malaysia to New Guinea.

Description

Anthocephalus chinensis is a medium-sized to large tree that can reach up to 45 m tall. Its bole is straight and cylindrical, branchless for more than 25 m, measures up to 100(-160) cm in diametre but generally less, sometimes with small buttresses up to 2 m high and extending up to 60 cm from the trunk.

The leaves measure 13-32 cm x 7-15 cm, with acute to acuminate apex and distinctly petiolate with a petiole 2.5-6 cm long.

The flower heads are 3-5 cm wide where the upper part of the ovary is distinctly 4-loculed with 4 hollow cartilagineous structures.

Ecology / Cultivation

Anthocephalus chinensis occurs mainly in secondary vegetation and along rivers on fertile, often periodically flooded locations up to 1000 m altitude. 

Line Drawing / Photograph

References

1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.5(1):Timber trees: Major Commercial Timbers