Scientific Name : Ormosia pinnata (Lour.) Merr.
Common Name : Hainan Ormosia
Chinese Name : 海南紅豆
Family : FABACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origin | Native to southeastern China, Hainan; Assam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam. |
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| Application |
In its natural range with sufficient sunlight support, Hainan Ormosia can exhibit a handsome tree form with dense foliage. Therefore, good planting should be conducted with full sunlight exposure. The tree can be either planted in solitary or mixed planting into other vegetative configurations in parks for providing an unsurpassed shading effect. The tree is also valued for its remarkable flowers and seeds. When it blossoms, numerous pollinators tap the flowers and fill the urban jungle with vigour and vitality. In respect of its appealing heartwood colour in light reddish-brown and relatively resistant to rotting, its wood is always used for making furniture and construction. The seeds dyed in a fascinating red colour can be used for decorations |
| Meanings of name | The generic name Ormosia is derived from the Greek word hormos (a chain or necklace), alluding to its necklace-like seeds. The specific epithet pinnata refers to its imparipinnately compound leaves. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
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| Height | To 30 m. |
| Stem | Bark grey to brownish grey, smooth. Young branches with brownish pubescent, turning glabrous when ageing. |
| Leaves | Imparipinnately compound, alternate, leaflets 7-11, opposite, the terminal leaflet with elongated rachis. Pulvinus at the base of petioles, petiolules grooved, pubescent. Blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, thin-leathery, glabrous, apex obtuse or acute, lateral veins 5-7. |
| Flower | Hermaphroditic. Terminal panicles, brown pubescent. Calyx campanulate, margin toothed, broad-triangular, corolla pink and yellowish white. |
| Fruit | Seeds ellipsoid, enclosed by red aril, funiculus short. |
| Flowering period | July to August in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | October in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website: https://herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=3709
Scientific names from other databases:
― Flora of China: Ormosia pinnata (Loureiro) Merrill
― Plants of the World Online: Ormosia pinnata (Lour.) Merr.