Scientific Name : Spondias lakonensis Pierre
Common Name : Ling Nan Suan Zao
Chinese Name : 嶺南酸棗
Family : ANACARDIACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origin | South-Central and Southeast China, Hainan; Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Malaya. |
|---|---|
| A brief taxonomic history of Spondias |
Spondias used to be a large genus in Anacardiaceae. Since the genus was in dispute of its validity to represent all the members it covered, the genus has been further fragmented into two groups, namely the original genus Spondias and the newly added genus Choerospondias. As the same time, some species of the original Spondias were also arranged to the corresponding genus. For example, Hog Plum previously named as Spondias axillaris, has been rectified into Choerospondias axillaris. Ling Nan Suan Zao has been rearranged from Spondias, due to the absence of intramarginal veins and other subtle morphological differences. Taxonomy is the brainchild of many scientists and a lot of efforts have been involved in investigating the unknown areas. The scientists have categorized comprehensively the organisms according to their characteristics and sorted out useful information from ancient morphology to modern molecular biology. They depict the mystery of evolution by using the state-of-art technology. |
| Ling Nan Suan Zao in Hong Kong | Ling Nan Suan Zao is an excellent ornamental tree with its compact crown, showy white blossoms and decorative fruits. However, it is relatively rare in Hong Kong. In fact, most of the existing Ling Nan Suan Zao are mixed with African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata) and Yanmin (Dracontomelon duperreanum), which are common street trees or ornamental trees in Hong Kong. |
| Growing habit | Deciduous tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 15 m. |
| Roots | Buttressed. |
| Stem | Bark greyish brown. |
| Leaves | Imparipinnately compound, alternate, leaflets 11-23 pairs, opposite to alternate. Petioles and rachis minutely pubescent. Blade oblong or oblong-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base oblique, broadly cuneate to rounded, margin entire, without intramarginal veins, minutely pubescent abaxially along veins. |
| Flowers | Panicles axillary, large. Petals white, recurved when flowering. Hermaphroditic. |
| Fruits | Drupes ovate to obovate, angled, turning red when mature. |
| Flowering period | / |
| Fruiting period | / |
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=6405
Scientific names from other databases:
― Flora of China: Spondias lakonensis Pierre
― Plants of the World Online: Allospondias lakonensis Pierre