Cynometra ramiflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cynometra ramiflora |
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Cynometra
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C. ramiflora
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| Cynometra ramiflora |
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Cynometra ramiflora is a type of tree that belongs to the Fabaceae family, also known as the pea or bean family. You can find this tree growing in mangrove forests and other areas that get flooded. It lives across a wide area, from New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean all the way to India. People use its wood for building and as fuel. Parts of the plant are also used in traditional medicine.
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About the Name
The name ramiflora tells us something special about this tree. It comes from two Latin words. Rami means "branches" and florus means "flowered." This name describes how the tree's flowers grow directly from its branches.
What the Tree Looks Like
This tree can grow quite tall, reaching between 10 and 20 meters (about 33 to 66 feet) high. Its trunk can be up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) wide. Sometimes, the trunk has special wide bases called buttress roots to help it stand firm.
- Leaves: The leaves are made up of smaller parts called leaflets. Usually, there are two leaflets, but sometimes just one. New leaves start out pink, which is a cool feature!
- Flowers: The flowers are white and grow in clusters of up to 20 flowers. These clusters can be up to 20 millimeters long.
- Fruit: The fruit is a round, woody nut. It's about 45 millimeters long and rust-brown in color. Each fruit usually holds one seed inside.
- Flowering and Fruiting: In places where it's grown, the tree has been seen flowering in August and October. It produces fruit in October and May.
In Australia, you can tell C. ramiflora apart from other similar trees. Its leaves are smooth, and its fruit is round with a small point near the top. Plus, those pink new leaves are a great clue!
Where it Lives
Cynometra ramiflora is very adaptable. It grows in many different places:
- On rocky and sandy seashores.
- Next to rivers that are affected by tides.
- On the land side of mangrove forests.
- In forests further inland, up to 400 meters (about 1,300 feet) above sea level.
This tree especially likes areas that get flooded or have very wet soil. You can find it in forests that have never been touched, as well as in forests that have been disturbed by people.
For example, on the island of Saipan, this tree is one of the main trees in the forest canopy. It often grows alongside other trees like Pisonia grandis.
Where it is Found
This tree is found across a wide range of places, showing how well it can adapt. Its natural home stretches from New Caledonia in the Pacific to India in Asia.
Some of the places where it grows include:
- Australia (especially Cape York Peninsula in Queensland)
- New Guinea
- Philippines
- Indonesia (like Maluku and Java)
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Myanmar
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Various Pacific islands like the Caroline Islands, Solomon Islands, Guam, and Palau.
It has also started growing in the Society Islands (like Tahiti), where it was not originally found.
Tree Life and Animals
Cynometra ramiflora plays a role in its ecosystem.
- In Manusela National Park in Indonesia, the fruit of this tree is a food source for the red-cheeked parrot.
- The flowers or nectar are eaten by the Seram friarbird.
- A type of moth called Carea costiplaga also feeds on this plant.
Conservation Status
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at the status of Cynometra ramiflora. They have rated it as a species of "least concern." This means that, overall, there are many of these trees, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing. Even though some local areas might see fewer trees due to things like deforestation, the species as a whole is doing well. However, in Singapore, this tree is considered threatened.
Local Names
People in different regions have their own names for Cynometra ramiflora:
- Australia: cynometra, wrinkle pod mangrove
- Indonesia: kateng, kepel, wunut
- Malaysia: katong, katong laut (where laut means "ocean")
- Cambodia: châmpré:nh (in Khmer)
- Myanmar: myinga, ye-minga
How People Use This Tree
Cynometra ramiflora is a useful tree with many purposes:
- Wood: Its wood is hard and heavy. People use it for small construction projects, like door posts. It's also used to make tool handles, crafts, and decorative items. In Cambodia, it's used for temporary buildings. It also makes excellent firewood.
- Medicine: Parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine.
- In India, the leaves are boiled with cow's milk and mixed with honey. This mixture is then put on the skin to help with skin diseases.
- Oil from the seeds is also used on the skin for similar problems.
- The root is sometimes used as a medicine to help the body get rid of waste.
- Ornamental: Sometimes, the tree is grown just for its beauty in gardens and parks.
Among the Rejang people in Sumatra, C. ramiflora is often seen as a sialang tree. These are tall, special trees in the forest where Apis dorsata honeybees build their nests. The Rejang people believe that each sialang tree has a sacred spirit, often a female deity, who is the owner of the bees, their nest, and the honey. Gathering wild honey from these trees is seen as a journey into a special, sometimes risky, spiritual world, so people take special care and follow traditions when they do it.
