Dimocarpus
Content
Description
Trees or shrubs with simple or stellate hairs. Stipules wanting. Leaves alternate, paripinnate, rarely unifoliolate; rachis ending in a distal process (rudimentary leaflet); leaflets serrate or entire. Inflorescences distal or less often axillary, paniculate thyrses with flowers in lateral dichasia. Flowers actinomorphic, functionally unisexual (falsely polygamous); calyx of 5-6, imbricate sepals that are connate at base or free; petals 5(6) or wanting, without appendages; disc annular, 5-lobed, pubescent; stamens (6-) 8 (-10), anthers dorsifixed; ovary 2(3)-carpellate, with a single ovule per carpel; style filiform, with 2-3 stigmatic spreading lobes. Fruits of 1(2) indehiscent, or tardily dehiscent, warty, smooth, or spiny mericarpsSeeds with a thin, translucent-white, fleshy aril around the hilum.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present; Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present), Australasia, Malaysia present, southern and south-eastern Asia present
Six species in southern and south-eastern Asia, from Sri Lanka and India to eastern Malaysia and Australia. Dimocarpus longan Lour. is widely cultivated as the source of the edible fruit Longan.