Alangium

The genus consists of small trees, shrubs and lianas; a few species have spines. Leaves are undivided or lobed, arranged alternately on the twigs, possess a petiole (leaf stem), are without stipules, have domatia and are usually asymmetric. The inflorescences are cymes produced in the leaf axils. The flowers are symmetrical in form, and have both male and female reproductive organs. They have 4–10 petals and sepals and have 4–40 stamens; the style has two to four lobes and the ovary has one or sometimes two locules. The fruit is a drupe with one or two seeds.^[7][8][9]

It is native to western Africa, Madagascar, southern and eastern Asia (China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), tropical Australia, the western Pacific Ocean islands, and New Caledonia. Most of the species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of east and southeast Asia.^[4] Five of the species extend well outside of this area. Alangium platanifolium extends from east Asia into Russia. Alangium chinense extends from southeast Asia to Africa. Alangium salviifolium is the most widespread species, ranging from Africa to Australia, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Alangium villosum occurs from southeast Asia to Australia and the western Pacific islands. Alangium grisolleoides is endemic to Madagascar and gives the genus a disjunct distribution.

Alangium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moth species in the Geometroidea-Drepanoidea assemblage including engrailed (Geometridae) and the subfamily Cyclidiinae (Drepanidae).

The name Alangium is a Latinization, derived from the Malayalam name alangi, which, in Kerala, refers to Alangium salviifolium.^[10] It was named in 1783 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in his Encyclopédie Méthodique.^[11][12]

The wood, fruit, and pollen of Alangium are distinctive. Fossils of Alangium have been recognized from the early Eocene of England and the middle Eocene of western North America. In former times, Alangium was far more widespread than it is today.^[4]

As of April 2026^[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following 57 species:^[1]