Dialium

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Dialium

Description

Trees, occasionally shrubby. Leaves unifolio- late or imparipinnate, petiole and rachis without conspicuous glands. Stipules small, very early caducous. Inflorescences paniculate, terminal or axillary, often in fascicles; bracts not observed, bracteoles very early caducous. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic. Sepals 5 or 3. Petals usually none, sometimes (not in Malesia) 1,3, or 5. Stamens 2 or 6 (in Malesia); anthers basifixed, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary sessile or shortly stipitate; style ± as long as the ovary; stigma small, punctiform to slightly swollen; ovules (1 or) 2. Seeds 1 (or 2), usually reniform, albuminous; testa smooth.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Pantropical present
Pantropical genus of 27 species, not in Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Malesia absent from the islands East of Borneo and Java.

Taxonomy

The genus is divided into three subgenera, of which one, subgenus Arouna, is not represented in the Malesian area.

Uses

The heartwood gives a good general-purpose timber, known as keranji. See .

Fruits (at least those of Dialium indum and D. platysepalum) are edible, but of slight importance. See

Citation

Rojo 1982: Unpubl. Thesis Oxford: 156-248.
Irwin & Barneby 1981 – In: Polhill & Raven, Adv. Leg. Syst. 1: 101