Citronella suaveolens

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Citronella suaveolens

Description

Tree, (8-)15-36 m, trunk up to ½ m ø, rarely with thin buttresses; Branchlets smooth or striate, older parts lengthwise set with elongate lenticels. Leaves elliptic to oblong- or ovate-elliptic, variable in shape and size, apex generally short-acuminate (tip subacute and often plicate then), or obtuse-rounded, base broadly attenuate to rounded, often subequal, coriaceous, shining above, (6-)10-24(30) by (3−)5−13(−17) cm, nerves (4-)5-6 curved-ascendent and anastomosing pairs, lower 1(-2) rather close to the base of the lamina, slightly impressed above, much raised beneath, reticulation fine to rather coarse, a little prominent above, more distinctly so beneath; Flowers bisexual, fragrant. Petals elliptic-oblong, white to cream, or sometimes suffused with red, (4-)5(-6) mm at full anthesis, midrib inside raised considerably, sometimes almost wing-like in the lower ½−¾ part. Panicles terminal, greyish-rusty hirsutu-lous, mostly solitary and spike-like initially, sometimes 2 or 3 forming a ± pyramidal inflorescence, lateral branches of the single panicles of ± the same length (0.5-2 cm), mostly 2-(rarely more-) forked, each branch recurved and bearing several flowers arranged in a cyme. Ovary ovoid, glabrous, style 1-2 mm, stigma small, a little oblique.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Lesser Sunda Is. present; New Guinea present; Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Flores present, Kai Is present, N. & E. Borneo present, NW. Sumatra present, S. Moluccas present, Simalur I present, W. & Central Java present
Malesia: NW. Sumatra (Simalur I.), W. & Central Java, N. & E. Borneo, Celebes, S. Moluccas (Kai Is.), New Guinea, Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores: SCHMUTZ 5819).

Uses

Wood light brown, hard and heavy, not used. Known by numerous vernacular names.

Citation

SLEUM. 1940 – In: Notizbl. Berl.-Dahl.: 229
SLEUM. 1969 – In: Blumea: 187
BECC. 1877 – In: Malesia: 118
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 59
HOWARD 1942 – In: Contr. Gray Herb.: 82
BACK. 1911: Schoolfl. Java: 228
AMSH. 1948 – In: Back., Bekn. Fl. Java, (em. ed.), 6: fam. 135, p. 2