Barringtonia lumina
Content
Description
Monocaulous trees, to 15 m tall;
Leaves in a single whorl of 12-25 in mature trees, several in younger trees;
Inflorescences 80-100 cm long, lateral in groups of 2-6, usually arising from a single previous whorl of leaves, axillary to a former leaf base;
Flowers 80-100;
Fruits sessile, obovate, to 7.5 by 3.5 cm, base tapering, acute, almost circular in section, apex blunt-rounded.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Bougainville present, Jayapura present, Milne Bay present, Morobe present, Sepik present
Malesia: New Guinea (Jayapura, Sepik, Morobe, Milne Bay, Bougainville).
Notes
This species is close to B. procera but differs in the much larger leaves, the quadrangular buds and the distinctive velvety pubescence of the hypanthium and calyx. It can commence flowering when 2 m tall. The prominent and pink coloured terminal bud is reminiscent of a candle flame atop the unbranched stem; the more so if the leaves have fallen (lumina (Latin) = candle or light).