Michelsonia
{{Short description|Genus of legumes}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =
|status = VU
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Contu, S. |title=Michelsonia microphylla |page=e.T19892671A20106521 |year=2012 |access-date=16 May 2024}}
|display_parents = 3
|genus = Michelsonia
|parent_authority = Hauman (1952)
|species = microphylla
|authority = (Troupin) Hauman (1952)
|synonyms = *Julbernardia microphylla Troupin (1950)
- Tetraberlinia microphylla (Troupin) Aubrev. (1968)
}}
Michelsonia is a genus of tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, where it is classified in the subfamily Detarioideae. It is a monotypic genus, the only species being Michelsonia microphylla.{{cite web |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/ild-1592 |title=Michelsonia microphylla (Troupin) Hauman |publisher=The Plant List |accessdate=29 June 2019}} It is native to the tropical rain forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite web |url=https://plants.jstor.org/search?genus=Michelsonia&species=microphylla |title=Michelsonia microphylla |work=Global Plants |publisher=JSTOR |accessdate=29 June 2019}} The wood is used locally for construction work.
Description
Michelsonia microphylla is a medium to large tree with a spreading crown, growing to a height of {{convert|30|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} or more. The trunk is cylindrical and bare of branches for the first {{convert|12|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}. It can grow to a diameter of about {{convert|80|cm|ft|1|abbr=on}}, the base flaring out a little and sometimes having small buttresses. The pinnate leaves are alternate and have ten to sixteen pairs of leaflets. The compound inflorescences are at the tips of the shoots and the individual flowers have white petals about {{convert|5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, and are followed by flat, glossy brown, woody pods up to {{convert|10|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long. These are so heavy that they sink in water.{{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:507208-1 |title=Michelsonia microphylla (Troupin) |work=Plants of the World online |publisher=KewScience |accessdate=29 June 2019}} This tree is similar in appearance to Tetraberlinia baregarum, with which it can be confused.{{cite web |url=http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Michelsonia+microphylla |title=Michelsonia microphylla |author=Fern, Ken |date=13 June 2019 |work=Useful Tropical Plants Database |accessdate=29 June 2019}}
Ecology
This tree is one of several species in the family Fabaceae that form monodominant stands in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, either singly, or in conjunction with Brachystegia laurentii, Cynometra alexandri, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei or Julbernardia seretii.{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/3/ad652e/ad652e19.htm |title=Tropical rain forest |work=Africa: Global Ecological Zones |publisher=FAO |accessdate=29 June 2019}} In 1983, it occurred throughout the Congo Basin. In the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, between about {{convert|1000|and|1350|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}, it was co-dominant with Staudtia stipitata and Julbernardia seretii, and was abundant at higher elevations.{{cite book|author1=White, Frank |title=The vegetation of Africa: a descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pmHuAAAAMAAJ |year=1983|publisher=Unesco |isbn=978-92-3-101955-5 |pages=78–79}} However it has become much rarer and is no longer plentiful in its previous habitats.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q5438741|from2=Q15534369}}
Category:Monotypic Fabaceae genera
Category:Endemic flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo