Mallotus (plant) explained

Mallotus is a genus of the spurge family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1790.[1] Two species (M. oppositifolius and M. subulatus) are found in tropical Africa and Madagascar, while all others are found in East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, eastern Australia, and certain islands of the western Pacific.[2] [3] [4] The genus has about 150 species of dioecious trees or shrubs.[5]

Fossil record

Mallotus macrofossils have been recovered from the late Zanclean stage of Pliocene sites in Pocapaglia, Italy.[6]

Uses

Mallotus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita malabaricus. The Kamala tree (Mallotus philippensis) has seed capsules which are the source of a yellow dye (Kamala dye) and were formerly a herbal remedy.[7]

Species

Formerly included

Some species have been moved to other genera, namely: Acalypha Aleurites Blumeodendron Chondrostylis Cleidion Croton Discocleidion Endospermum Hancea Lasiococca Macaranga Melanolepis Neoboutonia Plukenetia Ptychopyxis Rockinghamia Spathiostemon Sumbaviopsis.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/654294#page/247/mode/1up Loureiro, João de. 1790. Flora Cochinchinensis 601, 635
  2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=119552 Flora of China Vol. 11 Page 225 野桐属 ye tong shu Mallotus Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 635. 1790.
  3. Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) 1–4: 1–1622. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  4. Sierra, S.E.C. & Van Welzen, P.C. (2005). A taxonomic revision of Mallotus section Mallotus (Euphorbiaceae) in Malesia. Blumea 50: 249–274.
  5. 10.1071/BT12202. Wind and insect pollination (Ambophily) of Mallotus spp. (Euphorbiaceae) in tropical and temperate forests. 2013. Yamasaki. Eri. Sakai. Shoko. Australian Journal of Botany. 61. 60. 2433/173327. free.
  6. Messian to Zanclean vegetation and climate of Northern and Central Italy by Adele Bertini & Edoardo Martinetto, Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 47 (2), 2008, 105–121. Modena, 11 lugio 2008.
  7. Web site: Banato / Mallotus philippensis / Kamala . 2024-06-22 . Philippine Medicinal Herbs.

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