Aglaia sect. Amoora
Content
Description
Petals 3(–5), aestivation usually imbricate, quincuncial when petals 5.
Ovary usually with 3, rarely 4, locules.
Fruit dehiscent; aril opaque, with red, white or yellow outer skin, flesh solid or of a milky consistency.
Taxonomy
The maximum of 21 anthers is found in Aglaia penningtoniana; A. lawii usu- ally has 4 petals and A. teysmanniana 3–5. The largest trees in the genus belong to this section and they often attain or emerge from the canopy layer of the forest. Aglaia lepidopetala and A. rugulosa are smaller, rarely exceeding 10 m, while A. lawii and A. teys- manniana grow to 30 m and 15 m respectively. The fruits of the larger species and of A. rugulosa are large and heavy and the twigs are stout. In A. lepidopetala, A. lawii and A. teysmanniana the fruits are smaller and the twigs are relatively slender. In most species, the leaflets are coriaceous and, in some, the indumentum on the leaves is inconspicuous and easily overlooked without magnification. Aglaia rubiginosa, A. densitricha and sometimes A. penningtoniana have a dense reddish-brown indumentum. Aglaia lawii varies from having almost none to numerous peltate scales on the lower leaflet surface and there is similar variation in stellate hairs in A. teysmanniana. The flowers are relatively large in A. rubiginosa (up to 9 mm long) and A. penningtoniana (up to 10 mm long). They rarely exceed 6 mm in the rest of the genus.