Anogeissus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anogeissus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Combretaceae Genus: Anogeissus Wall.
species
8 - see text

Anogeissus is a genus of trees native to South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa, belonging to family Combretaceae. The genus has eight species, five native to South Asia, two endemic to the southern Arabian Peninsula, and one native to Africa. Anogeissus latifolia, known as dhaora, is one of the most useful trees in India. Its leaves contain large amounts of tannin, and are used in India for tanning. The tree is the source of Indian gum, also known as ghatti gum, which is used for calico printing among other uses. A. pendula, known as kardhai or dhok, is common in the Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests of western India, where it often forms pure stands in the rocky ridges of the Aravalli Range. A. leiocarpus is found in Africa from northeastern Ethiopia to Senegal, and its bark is used to produce Anogelline, a substance used in cosmetics. A. dhofarica and A. bentii are endemic to the woodlands of the southern Arabian Peninsula.

Species:

• Anogeissus acuminata (A. pendula)
  
• Anogeissus bentii
  
• Anogeissus dhofarica
  
• Anogeissus latifolia
  
• Anogeissus leiocarpus (A. leiocarpa)
  
• Anogeissus rotundifolia
  
• Anogeissus schimperi
  
• Anogeissus sericea