Bhesa nitidissima

Bhesa nitidissima
Conservation status
	; Critically Endangered (IUCN 2.3)[1]
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; Kosterm.

Bhesa nitidissima is a species of plant in the Centroplacaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Description

A tree with an average height of 20-30 meters (65-98 feet)[2] but can reach as high as 50 meters (164 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 2.2cm long. [2]

Ecology

Endemic to Sri Lanka. Found mostly in low elevation wet zone forests, but have a recorded range of up to 1600 meters (5249 feet). The tree flowers September through October and produces fruit November through December.[2] Although listed as critically endangered in 1998,[1] a 2017 handbook of Sri Lankan flora suggests the tree is now quite common.[2]

Uses

The arils of Bhesa are a known human food source. The tree is occasionally used for timber.[3] Extracts from this genus are used in traditional medicine, to cure vomiting and diarrhea.[4]

References

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Bhesa nitidissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32613A9717641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32613A9717641.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
Dassanayake, M.D. (2017). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. CRC Press. p. 79. ISBN 9781351469524.
Simmons, Mark P. (2004). "Celastraceae". In Kubitzki, Klaus (ed.). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 6; Flowering Plants · Dicotyledons: Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 29–37. ISBN 9783662072578.
Jayasinghe, U.L.B.; Vithana, H.S.K.; Wannigama, G.P.; Fujimoto, Y. (2001). "Phytochemical communication; 24-Methylenecycloartenone from Bhesa nitidissima". Fitoterapia. 72 (5): 594–595. doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00277-5. PMID 11429266.

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[iucn_status_16_November_2021-1] World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Bhesa nitidissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32613A9717641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32613A9717641.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

[Dassanayake-2] Dassanayake, M.D. (2017). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. CRC Press. p. 79. ISBN 9781351469524.

[Simmons-3] Simmons, Mark P. (2004). "Celastraceae". In Kubitzki, Klaus (ed.). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 6; Flowering Plants · Dicotyledons: Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 29–37. ISBN 9783662072578.

[4] Jayasinghe, U.L.B.; Vithana, H.S.K.; Wannigama, G.P.; Fujimoto, Y. (2001). "Phytochemical communication; 24-Methylenecycloartenone from Bhesa nitidissima". Fitoterapia. 72 (5): 594–595. doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00277-5. PMID 11429266.