Cassine orientalis
Cassine orientalis, known locally as bois d'olive, is a tall canopy tree endemic to the Mascarene islands of Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues.
| Cassine orientalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Young Cassine orientalis tree on Reunion island | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Celastrales |
| Family: | Celastraceae |
| Genus: | Cassine |
| Species: | C. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cassine orientalis | |
In its native islands the tree has been severely over-exploited for its valuable reddish wood. Adults reach up to 20 meters in height. The fruits resemble small olives, from which the local name derives.[1]
Juveniles have shiny narrow leaves with a bright red mid-rib and smooth edges; while adult leave are wide and oval with a serrated margin.
Foliage of a young tree
Foliage of an adult
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elaeodendron orientale.
References
- "- //Cassine orientalis// (Cav.) Harms / Celastraceae / Espèces". arbres-reunion.cirad.fr. Archived from the original on 2008-10-19.
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