Glochidion zeylanicum var. zeylanicum

Species of flowering plant

Glochidion zeylanicum var. zeylanicum, known as the umbrella cheese tree, is a plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Indochina, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Indian subcontinent.^[1] It is recognized as a distinct species by some sources, as Glochidion sumatranum and other synonyms.^[2][1] The habitat is rainforest, or rainforest margins in swampy areas, sometimes associated with palms. It may grow to 15 metres tall. The most southerly point of natural distribution is Iluka, New South Wales.^[2]

Glochidion zeylanicum var. zelyanicum is presumably is dependent on leafflower moths (Epicephala spp.) for its pollination, like other species of tree in the genus Glochidion.^[3]

References

1. Glochidion zeylanicum var. zeylanicum Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
2. Floyd, A. G. (2008). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia (2nd, Revised ed.). Lismore, New South Wales: Terania Rainforest Publishing. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-958943-67-3. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
3. Kato, M.; Takimura, A.; Kawakita, A. (2003) "An obligate pollination mutualism and reciprocal diversification in the tree genus Glochidion (Euphorbiaceae)." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 100 (9): 5264–5267