Cassine orientalis
| Cassine orientalis | |
|---|---|
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| Young Cassine orientalis tree on Reunion island | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Celastrales |
| Family: | Celastraceae |
| Genus: | Cassine |
| Species: | C. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cassine orientalis L. | |
Cassine orientalis (known locally as "Bois d'Olive") is a tall canopy tree endemic to the Mascarene islands of Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues.
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.
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Foliage of a young tree
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Foliage of an adult
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