South pacific palm (Biophytum umbraculum, Apont.: 590 (1859))

Family: Oxalidaceae

Author: Welw.

Bibliography: Apont.: 590 (1859)

Year: 1859

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Biophytum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. Africa, Madagascar, China (Yunnan) to Trop. Asia and N. Queensland

Description

The South Pacific Palm, scientifically known as Biophytum umbraculum, is a fascinating and unique member of the Oxalidaceae family. This plant holds historical significance as it was first documented in the year 1859 by the botanist Welw., noted in the bibliography under “Apont.: 590.”

Biophytum umbraculum is remarkable for its distribution across a wide geographical range. It thrives in tropical regions, specifically found in parts of Africa, Madagascar, and extending into China, particularly in the Yunnan province. Its presence also spans across tropical Asia and reaches as far as northern Queensland.

This adaptability to various tropical climates highlights the resilience and versatility of the South Pacific Palm. Its ability to flourish in such diverse environments underscores its ecological importance and the potential benefits it offers within its native habitats. Whether you are an enthusiast of tropical flora or a botanist studying the varied plant life of tropical regions, Biophytum umbraculum presents an intriguing subject worthy of attention and further research.

Common Names

En: South Pacific palm
Bm: Jutugunin
Ff: Makku rumbu
De: Südseepalme
Sn: Nyambere

Synonyms

• Oxalis petersii (Edgew. & Hook.f.)
• Oxalis apodiscias (Turcz.)
• Oxalis petersianum ((Klotzsch) Müll.Berol.)
• Biophytum apodiscias ((Turcz.) Edgew. & Hook.f.)
• Oxalis sessilis (Buch.-Ham. ex Baill.)
• Biophytum rotundifolium (Delhaye)
• Biophytum sessile ((Buch.-Ham. ex Baill.) R.Knuth)
• Biophytum petersianum (Klotzsch)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Assam (native)
• Benin (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Congo (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mali (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Nov 10, 2019 by Paulin OUOBA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2022 by josue TASMARE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2022 by Guibien Cleophas Zerbo (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 15, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Wenemi François KAGAMBÈGA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Wenemi François KAGAMBÈGA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Wenemi François KAGAMBÈGA (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3628150)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:371969-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Biophytum umbraculum Welw.)

Specifications

Growth