Pometia pinnata
| Pometia pinnata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In flower, Tonga | |
 | |
| New growth and developing fruit | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Pometia |
| Species: | P. pinnata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. and G.Forst. | |
The Pometia pinnata is a tropical hardwood tree species that is widespread in the Pacific and Southeast Asian regions.[2] The tree species has many common names, including Matoa, Taun tree, Island lychee, Tava, and Pacific lychee.[3] The species comes from the Sapindaceae family and comes from the clades of Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, and the order Sapindales.[3]
Characteristics
[edit]The hardwood tree species occurs and grows in a wide variety of habitats and vegetation. The size of the tree varies, ranging from 12–20 metres (39–66 ft) tall with a 10–20 m (33–66 ft) wide canopy.[4] The tree grows an average of 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) per year.[3] Its canopy is made up of lush, evergreen leaves that create wide coverage.[2]
Pometia pinnata is a fruiting and flowering species, and it produces white to green-yellow flowers.[2] The male and female flowers are similar in size and color, so it is hard to differentiate between them.[3] They grow in long stalks, 2–2.5 millimetres (0.08–0.10 in) in length, and produce flowers that can potentially fruit.[2] The fruiting process takes 2–3 months and the fruit is green-yellow when developing. They are under developed when the fruit is tough and fleshy. When it is ripe and edible, the fruit will turn red-black in color, and become softer in texture.[4] The species is also self-pruning, and can reproduce rapidly even in tropical forests.[4]
Habitat and range
[edit]Pometia pinnata is a widespread type of timber tree species. The species originated from Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands through Southeast Asia.[4] The pinnata species also inhabits New Guinea and other Pacific islands.[3] It grows naturally in warm to hot, humid subtropical and tropical zones, with a typical elevation of 0–500 m (0–1,640 ft). The trees need an annual rainfall of 1,500–5,000 mm (59–197 in).[4] The species has a natural, native range in the Asian-Pacific region of the globe. The Tava species is native throughout the island of Borneo.[4] The plant species has a range of distribution that keeps growing, but not invasive. It is modernly distributed to New Caledonia, eastern Polynesia, and the North Pacific islands, like Hawai'i.[4]
Possible benefits and threats
[edit]Residents of the Pacific islands benefit from the fruiting tree. They are able to collect the freshly produced fruit from the trees and collect timber for logging and trades.[4] Pometia pinnata has a very low invasive potential, and the species spreads and distributes naturally throughout the Pacific Islands.[4] The only other possible threat to the species is a risk of defoliation in specific regions of the South Pacific.[4] Meaning that its leaves could suffer from a shot-holed appearance. It does not necessarily kill the trees, but does occur when the tree is becoming fully mature.
Mitigation and control
[edit]The control and mitigation of the species is fairly easy and straightforward. Papua New Guinea's constitution protects all aspects of wildlife and nature, including Pometia pinnata.[3] In other locations of this species, the trees are protected as well. The species is a major resource to its countries of origin and will be protected as an asset.[3]
References
[edit]
- ^ Thaman, R. & Thomson, L. (2019). "Pometia pinnata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136055184A136055188. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Forst, J.R.; Forst, G. "Pometia pinnata". Flora & Fauna.
- ^ a b c d e f g Piskaut, P.; Damas, K.; Daur, P. "The Status of the Timber Tree: Pometia Pinnata and its Trade in Papua New Guinea".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j Thomson, Lex A. J.; Thaman, Randolph R. (April 2006). "Pometia pinnata (tava)" (PDF). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry.
General references
[edit]- Conn, Barry J.; Damas, Kipiro Q. (2006). "PNGTreesKey" (Online, from pngplants.org/PNGtrees/TreeDescriptions/). Guide to Trees of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 16 Nov 2013.
- Pometia pinnata f. glabra (Blume) Jacobs
- Pometia pinnata J.R.Forster & G.Forster f. pinnata
- Pometia pinnata f. tomentosa (Blume) Jacobs
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