Bhesa nitidissima
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bhesa nitidissima | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Centroplacaceae |
| Genus: | Bhesa |
| Species: | B. nitidissima |
| Binomial name | |
| Bhesa nitidissima | |
Bhesa nitidissima is a species of flowering plant in the Centroplacaceae family. It is a tree endemic to Sri Lanka.
The species was first described by André Joseph Guillaume Henri Kostermans in 1977.
A tree with an average height of 20–30 meters (66–98 ft)[2] but can reach as high as 50 meters (160 feet).[3] Bark is usually dark brown and deeply cracked on older specimens. The unique feature of the Bhesa genus within the Centroplacaceae family is its geniculate petioles; which essentially means that the leaf bends sharply away from the stalk. The petiole usually contains three vascular bundles. Seed germination is epigeal.[3] Produces 3-4mm wide, greenish to white sessile flowers with 5 petals. The flowers produce greenish brown, oblong seeds encased in a thick gelatinous aril inside capsules up to 2.2 cm long.[2]
