Bouea
Content
Description
Trees.
Branchlets slightly 4-angular, usually flat towards the nodes.
Leaves decussate, simple, entire, petioled.
Inflorescences axillary, rarely also terminal, paniculate.
Flowers ♂ and bisexual (plants polygamo-andromonoecious).
Petals 3-5, imbricate, glabrous, lengthwise keeled.
Stamens 3-5;
Ovary ovoid or subglobose, 1-celled and 1-ovuled, puberulous or glabrous;
Seed with testa adherent to the endocarp;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Tropical SE. Asia present, W. Java present
About 3 spp., in tropical SE. Asia and Malesia (Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, W. Java, and Borneo).
Notes
Bouea is the only genus of this family with decussate leaves. They are rather variable in size and shape and are not very useful for specific distinction; I had to reduce several names. Flower and fruit characters are fairly uniform.
I examined the pollen grains of both species; they appear to be very similar in size and structure.
CORNER () noted that, when fresh, the fruit is like a plum or small mango, yellow, pulpy, with a fibrous leathery stone showing, when cut across, the bright purple cotyledons in the big seed.
He said furthermore, that sterile material might be mistaken for Garcinia, Eugenia, Olea, Austrobuxus, and Memecylon, but the resinous smell of the broken twigs or crushed leaves and the pointed buds at once distinguish it. Eugenia when dried should have pellucid dots in the leaves and Garcinia pellucid resinous ducts.
I examined the pollen grains of both species; they appear to be very similar in size and structure.
CORNER () noted that, when fresh, the fruit is like a plum or small mango, yellow, pulpy, with a fibrous leathery stone showing, when cut across, the bright purple cotyledons in the big seed.
He said furthermore, that sterile material might be mistaken for Garcinia, Eugenia, Olea, Austrobuxus, and Memecylon, but the resinous smell of the broken twigs or crushed leaves and the pointed buds at once distinguish it. Eugenia when dried should have pellucid dots in the leaves and Garcinia pellucid resinous ducts.