Harungana
| Harungana madagascariensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Hypericaceae |
| Genus: |
Harungana Lam. |
| Species: | H. madagascariensis |
| Binomial name | |
|
Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poiret |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Haronga madagascariensis Choisy |
|
Haronga madagascariensis Choisy
Harungana madagascariensis, the dragon's blood tree, orange-milk tree or haronga, is a species of flowering plants in the family Hypericaceae and the sole member of the genus.
H. madagascariensis can be found in medium to low altitudes in evergreen forest, usually around the forest margins and along river banks. It is widely distributed from South Africa to Sudan. It is often the first plant species to exist in a forest that has been cleared. “H. madagascariensis” can be found in both forest and savanna regions. It is native to Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda.
Harungana is an introduced species, originally from Africa and Madagascar. It is now naturalized and brought to Harvey Creek, Babinda and Mirriwinni areas of Australia. Harungana has now become quite common in disturbed coastal lowland rainforest and has the capacity to spread widely.
Altitude: 1000-1600m
The 'Haronga', is a small sized bushy tree that usually ranges 4 m to 7 m in height, but sometimes it can grow up to 25 meters. The branches stem out from a cylindrical truck. Its crown appears to be golden-green color. Bole is always angular and forked. Bark appears to be maroon colored and it is vertically fissured. The scales are vertically arranged and can be flaked off easily. The tree can be immediately identified by it almost fluorescent orange latex from strips that were peeled off from the stem. The orange latex discharges when leaves are snapped off or branches are broken. Majority of tree surface is covered with stellate hairs.
Flowers are small, approximately 5-6mm. Bisexual. White or cream colored. Almond scented. Sepals are marked by dark red-brownish dots. Stamens fused into five bundles, usually two or three stamens per bundle. But single stamen can also be found occasionally. Ovary is marked by dark glandular spots. Stalks and calyx are covered with short rusty hairs.
leaves are opposite, simple and ovate. leaf blades 6-20 by 3–10 cm. leaves appear to be glossy. Leaf blade underside is covered with stellate hairs or scales.prominent veining. underside surface is covered with dense rusty hair. numerous lateral nerves. Young leaves are distinctive due to it brown lower surface. Apex tapering. Petiole 1.5–3 cm long.
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Wikipedia