Sideroxylon Explained

Sideroxylon is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.[1] [2] They are collectively known as bully trees. The generic name is derived from the Greek words σιδηρος (sideros), meaning "iron", and ξύλον (xylon), meaning "wood."[3]

Distribution

The genus is distributed mainly in North and South America, but also in Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and various oceanic islands. Some species, such as gum bully (S. lanuginosum), S. tenax, and buckthorn bully (S. lycioides), are found in subtropical areas of North America. The only South African species, the white milkwood (S. inerme), is associated with three historical sites, and these individuals were declared national monuments due to their unusual longevity.[4] [5]

Ecology

Several species have become rare due to logging and other forms of habitat destruction. The tambalacoque (S. grandiflorum) of Mauritius was affected by the extinction of the birds which dispersed its seed; it was suggested that the species entirely depended on the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) for that purpose and nearly became a victim of coextinction, but this is not correct.[6] [7] Bully trees provide food for the larvae of certain Lepidoptera, such as the bumelia webworm moth (Urodus parvula) as well as several species of Coleoptera of the genus Plinthocoelium, commonly known as bumelia borers.

Species

83 species are currently accepted:[8]

Formerly placed here

References

  1. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40000075 Tropicos, Sideroxylon L.
  2. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358211#page/204/mode/1up Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 192-193
  3. Book: Gledhill, D. . The Names of Plants . 4 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-86645-3 . 2008 . 352.
  4. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=130321 Flora of North America, Vol. 8 Page 236, Bully, Sideroxylon Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 192. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 89. 1754.
  5. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=130439 Flora of China, Vol. 15 Page 212, 铁榄属 tie lan shu Sinosideroxylon (Engler) Aubreville, Adansonia, n.s. 3: 32. 1963.
  6. M. C. . Witmer . A. S. Cheke . 1991 . The dodo and the tambalacoque tree: an obligate mutualism reconsidered . . 61 . 1 . 133–137 . 10.2307/3545415. 3545415 . 1991Oikos..61..133W .
  7. D. R. . Hershey . 2004 . The widespread misconception that the tambalacoque absolutely required the dodo for its seeds to germinate . Plant Science Bulletin . 50 . 105–108.
  8. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30004465-2 Sideroxylon L.
  9. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sideroxylon%20lanuginosum.png Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Sideroxylon lanuginosum
  10. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sideroxylon%20lycioides.png Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Sideroxylon lycioides
  11. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sideroxylon%20reclinatum.png Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Sideroxylon reclinatum
  12. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sideroxylon%20tenax.png Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Sideroxylon tenax
  13. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sideroxylon%20thornei.png Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Sideroxylon thornei
  14. Web site: GRIN Species Records of Sideroxylon . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2010-09-10.

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