Download Bischofia javanica: A new record to the Flora of Pakistan

BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) 2012, 58 (1&2), 179-183
PK ISSN 0006 - 3096
Bischofia javanica: A new record to the Flora of Pakistan
*MUHAMMAD AJAIB1 & ZAHEER-UD-DIN KHAN2
1,2
Department of Botany, GC University Lahore, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
A pretty tree growing in the main campus GC University Lahore was identified as
Bischofia javanica Blume (Bishopwood Tree) of family Euphorbiaceae. The tree is
characterized by red sap and bark and trifoliate leaves. The voucher plant specimen was
preserved in Dr. Sultan Ahmad Herbarium, GCU Lahore, Pakistan for further reference.
This tree species has not been reported in Flora of Pakistan; therefore, the present report
is a new record in the same.
Key words: Bischofia javanica, Bishopwood Tree, Family Euphorbiaceae, Flora of
Pakistan
INTRODUCTION
Family Euphorbiaceae commonly called Spurge family is a large family
of flowering plants containing 300 genera and 500 species and is the sixth
largest family among anthophyta. It is a sub-cosmopolitan family with strong
representation in humid tropics and sub-tropics. In Pakistan this family is
represented by many exotic species (Radcliffe-Smith, 1986).
The genus Bischofia was named after the name of G.W. Bischoff, a
botanist and entomologist in Royal Academy Amsterdam (Parker, 1956). The
genus was first described by Blume (1826–1827) in Bijdr. 1168 and representing
only two species, Bischofia javanica Blume and B. polycarpa (H. Léveillé) Airy
Shaw (Shu et al., 2008). Currently this genus has been placed in family
Phyllanthaceae, which is split apart from Euphorbiaceae and consisting of
Phyllanthus, Antidesma, Glochidion, Bridelia, Cleistanthus, etc. Phyllanthaceae
having various growth forms is mainly identified by the finely-cracking bark,
absence of latex, usually 2-ranked and pinnately-veined leaves lacking glands,
and dehiscent fruit with persistent columella and two ovules in each carpel.
Bischofia javanica is widely distributed in the Pacific Islands, Malesia, SE Asia,
Southern China, possibly also in Tonga and Samoa including Taiwan, Southern
Japan, Myanmar, and India. It is well-known in New Caledonia, Tonga,
Rarotonga, Fiji, Niue, Vanuatu, and Samoa and is usually a dominant tree in
some forests in Cook Islands of Rarotonga (Whistler, 1991; Smith, 1981).
B. javanica is native to the Chinese provinces of Kwangtung, Fukien,
Kweichow, Yunnan and Hupeh and may also be to Burma, India, the Andaman
Islands, tropical Australia, Malaysia and Polynesia. In India, tigers are found
clearing their claws by digging them into the soft, astringent bark of the
Bishopwood Tree. Throughout its natural range it occurs from sea-level to an
altitude of 5,000 ft and is often associated with teak (Morton, 1984).
Naturally B. javanica found in Myristica lowland rain forest begins at the
landward edge of the coastal forest Eua Island, Tonga and is leading dominant
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
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BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)
with Dendrocnide harveyi (Drake et al., 1996). B. javanica is also found in
alluvial plains semi-evergreen forests along with other deciduous species, i.e.
Aglaia spectabilis, Ailanthus integrifolia, Artocarpus chalasha, Canarium strictum,
Castanopsis indica, Chukrasia tabularis, Duabanga grandiflora, Dysoxylum
gobara, Harpulia arborea, Phoebe hainsiana, Terminalia myriocarpa, etc. in India
and Lahore, Pakistan comprised mainly the flat alluvial Plains of Indus covering
the major part of Punjab having hot dry summers and mild winters with maximum
o
daily temperature in summer, 41-46 c (Jalali & Jamzad, 1999; Nasir & Rafiq
1995).
B. javanica was introduced as an ornamental tree in main campus GC
University Lahore, Pakistan in 1991 and since then it is thriving very well,
producing flowers and fruits. This tree species has not been reported by
Chaudhary (1969), Stewart (1972) and Radcliffe-Smith (1986) while documenting
the Flora of Pakistan.
Description of Bischofia javanica Blume
An evergreen, fast growing tree, upto 35m tall with cylindrical trunk and
light-brown to grayish, shallowly and narrowly fissured bark. Stem straight with
red to dark brown heartwood and glabrous branchlets. Leaves usually palmately
3-foliate rarely 5-foliate; stipules caducous, membranous, lanceolate, upto 0.5cm
long; petiole 8–20cm long, pulvinate; terminal petiolule 1–5cm long, lateral
petiolules 0.5–2cm; leaflet ovate, elliptic, obovate, or elliptic-oblong, papery,
minutely pubescent on nerves, glabrescent, base broadly cuneate to obtuse, 7–
15 × 4–8 cm in size; crenate with 2 or 3 teeth per cm, apex acute or acuminate;
lateral nerves 6-8 pairs. Flowers green in axillary, paniculate clusters; Male
flowers 2.5mm in diameter; sepals membranous, ladle-shaped, semi-orbicular,
adaxially concave, abaxially pubescent outside; petals 0; stamen 5; filaments
short; pistillode short, broad, peltate, pubescent; anthers large, dehiscing
lengthwise; peduncle upto 13cm, pubescent to glabrous; Female flowers with
sepals similar to male but oblong-ovate, margins membranous; ovary smooth,
glabrous, exerted, tri-locular; styles 3, linear, entire; peduncle 15–27cm long.
Fruits globose or subglobose, smooth, upto 1cm in diam., brownish. Seeds
oblong, brown to black, smooth, shining, upto 5mm in length (Plate 1).
Syn.: Bischofia trifoliata (Roxb.) Hooker; B. leptopoda Muller
Argoviensis; B. oblongifolia Decaisne; B. cumingiana Decaisne; B. roeperiana
Decaisne; B. toui Decaisne; Andrachne trifoliata Roxb.; Microelus roeperianus
(Decaisne) Wight & Arnott; Stylodiscus trifoliatus (Roxb.) Bennett.
Vern.: Bishopwood, Javawood, Java Cedar (English), Paniola (India),
Koka (Polynesia), Tuai (Philippines) and ’o’a (Samoa).
Flowering period: April–May; fruiting period: August–October; Voucher No.
SAH. 2214
Ethnobtany
Economically the plant is very useful and can yield:
1. Useful timber
According to Morton (1984) the main asset value of the bishopwood tree
is because of its source of useful timber-wood in India, Burma, Taiwan, East
Africa and South Africa which somewhat resembles walnut tree (Juglans regia)
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with strong vinegar odor when freshly cut and heartwood is dull red-brown,
usually with a wavy grain; hard, strong, medium-heavy (45 lb/ft3), fairly durable
indoors or out and under water. It is also used for piling, bridges, boats, wells,
railway sleepers, buildings, furniture, carving and pencil making. Durability is
prolonged by preservative treatment but the heartwood is strongly nonabsorbent. On preservative treatment the wood lasts for 15 yrs, otherwise only 45 yrs. The wood is easy to work and polish and may not warp or crack on gradual
air drying.
2. Firewood
The plant is locally called Kaijal in Nepal and stem is used as firewood
(Rijal, 2011).
3. Dye yielding
The tree locally called Urium is common in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh in
tropical and mixed evergreen forests (Mahanta & Tiwari, 2005). Its bark & leaves
are used to produce natural dyes. The bark contains 16% tannin and yields a
brown dye commonly used in Samoa for making designs on tapa cloth
(Christopherson, 1935).
4. Medicinal
Leafs and buds are used in tonsillitis and throat pain where as infusion of
young shoot & leaves is taken orally against diphtheria in tribal area, Mizoram,
India (Rai and Lalramnghinglova, 2010). In Tamil Nadu, India stem bark of the
tree after mixing with coconut oil is applied over head to stimulate hair growth
(Ignacimuthu et al., 2006). In Western Mizoram, India the plant is locally called
Khuanghtli and its leaf juice is used for the treatment of sores (Lalfakzuala et al.,
2007). Ground bark is used for abortion (Bourdya & Walterb, 1992). In Assam
(India) the decoction of tree bark is used for curing diarrhoea and dysentery
(Purkayastha et al., 2007). According to Das et al. (2012), the leaves contain
vitamin C while bark tannin. In Fiji, the leaf is eaten or the leaf decoction is
imbibed to cure tonsillitis and the inner bark is rubbed on urticaria caused by
stinging hairs of nettle-like plants (Altschul, 1973). According to Japanese
investigators report, 136 mg/100g ascorbic acid was reported (Anonymous,
1948).
Conclusion
Keeping in view the suitable environmental conditions in Lahore for
planting and ethnobotanical significance of Bischofia javanica Blume, i.e. useful
timber, dye yielding, firewood, avenue tree and medicinal, the plant may be
planted in and around Lahore.
182
M. AJAIB & Z. KHAN
a
BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)
b
d
e
c
f
Plate 1: Bischofia javanica Blume
a. Plant in natural habitat b. Branches with inflorescence c. Leaflet with
female flowers; d. Tapped bark e. Bark and soft wood f. Fruits and seeds
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