Glenniea philippinensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenniea philippinensis |
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| type specimen at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Glenniea |
| Species: |
G. philippinensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Glenniea philippinensis |
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Glenniea philippinensis is a fascinating flowering plant that grows as a tropical forest fruit tree. It belongs to the lychee family, which means it's related to tasty fruits like lychees and rambutan! This tree is originally from Southeast Asia.
About This Tree
This amazing tree can grow quite tall, reaching heights of 15 to 25 meters (about 49 to 82 feet). Its main trunk, called a bole, can be up to 5 meters (16 feet) long. The tree also has small buttresses at its base, which are like wide supports that help it stand strong.
The leaves of Glenniea philippinensis are pinnate. This means they have smaller leaflets arranged along a central stem, much like a feather. Each leaf usually has 3 to 6 pairs of leaflets that grow opposite each other.
When the tree blooms, it produces small, white flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called inflorescences, which appear in the leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem). The clusters are shaped like panicles, which are branched groups of flowers.
The fruits of this tree are smooth and round. They start off green and turn yellow as they ripen. Inside, the fruit has a yellow, edible part called the mesocarp, which is the fleshy part we eat.
Where Does It Grow?
You can find Glenniea philippinensis growing naturally in several countries across Southeast Asia. These include Thailand, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and the island of Borneo.
This tree prefers to grow in mixed hill forests. It is usually found at elevations between 300 and 800 meters (about 980 to 2,600 feet) above sea level.
