Chisocheton cumingianus explained

Chisocheton cumingianus is a tree in the family Meliaceae. The tree is named for the English naturalist Hugh Cuming. Habitat is rain forests from sea-level to 1300m (4,300feet) elevation. C. cumingianus is found from India and tropical China through Indochina and throughout Malaysia. In the Philippines, the seeds of C. cumingianus (known locally as balukanag) are used to make a non-drying oil either for traditional medicine or as fuel for oil lamps.^[1]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognised: C. cumingianus subsp. balansae, C. cumingianus subsp. cumingianus, and C. cumingianus subsp. kinabaluensis.

C. cumingianus subsp. balansae: This subspecies occurs on the Asian mainland.

C. cumingianus subsp. cumingianus: This subspecies is native to Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

C. cumingianus subsp. kinabaluensis: This subspecies is endemic to Borneo and known only from Sabah. It grows as a large tree. The inflorescences are borne on the bole and are often very close to the ground.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Orosa . Rosalinda L. . Tree of the month (part2) Balukanag (Chisocheton cumingianus) . PhilStar Global . 17 June 2018.