Omphalea
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Omphalea | ||||||||||||||||
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Omphalea triandra
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Omphalea bracteata |
Omphalea is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae and the only genus of its tribe (Omphaleae). It comprises 17 species, all of which are tropical shrubs, trees or lianas. 12 of them are native to the Americas, 4 are endemic to Madagascar and 1 to Africa. They have monoecious, apetalous flowers and fleshy fruits with hard centers.[2]
The plants are toxic and few animals can eat them. Diurnal moths of the subfamily Uraniinae feed on it. Species of the genus Urania in the Americas, and of the genus Chrysiridia in Africa.
The Madagascan species are:
- O. ankaranensis, a shrub from the limestone karst of northern Madagascar
- O. palmata, a dry forest shrub, closely related to O. ankaranensis, but from western Madagascar
- O. occidentalis, also a dry forest species of western Madagascar
- O. oppositifilia, a tree from the east coast rainforest of Madagascar[2]
The Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) feeds on all four of those species.
[edit] Synonymy
This genus is also known as:
- Duchola Adans.
- Hebecocca Beurl.
- Hecatea Thouars
- Neomphalea Pax & K.Hoffm.
- Omphalandria P.Browne
- Ronnowia Buc'hoz
[edit] Reference
- ^ Schatz, George E. Euphorbiaceae - Omphalea oppositifolia. MBG Images of Euphorbiaceae in Madagascar. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ a b Gillespie, Lynn J. (1997). Omphalea (Euphorbiaceae) in Madagascar: A New Species and a New Combination. Novon 7 (2): 127–136. St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden. doi: . Lay summary – JSTOR.