Pisonia grandis
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{short description|Species of flowering tree}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Starr_990611-0869_Pisonia_grandis.jpg
|genus = Pisonia
|species = grandis
|authority = R.Br.
|synonyms =
- Calpidia forsteriana {{small|(Endl. ex Walp.) Heimerl}}
- Calpidia macrophylla {{small|Bojer}}
- Ceodes forsteriana {{small|(Endl. ex Walp.) Skottsb.}}
- Ceodes grandis {{small|(R.Br.) D.Q.Lu}}
- Cordia olitoria {{small|Blanco}}
- Pisonia alba {{small|Span.}}
- Pisonia forsteriana {{small|Endl. ex Walp.}}
- Pisonia inermis {{small|G.Forst.}}
- Pisonia macrophylla {{small|Link}}
- Pisonia macrophylla {{small|Choisy}}
- Pisonia malabarica {{small|Choisy}}
- Pisonia morindifolia {{small|R.Br.}}
- Pisonia olitoria {{small|(Blanco) Zoll.}}
- Pisonia procera {{small|Bertero ex Guill.}}
- Pisonia sylvestris {{small|Teijsm. & Binn.}}
- Pisonia viscosa Balf.f.
- Timeroyea canalensis {{small|S.Moore}}
- Plectronia macconnelii {{small|Horne ex Baker}}
|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Pisonia grandis R.Br. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:604995-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=22 March 2025}}
}}
File:YosriMengkuduSiam.jpg in Malaysia.]]
Pisonia grandis, the grand devil's-claws,{{PLANTS|id=PIGR6|taxon=Pisonia grandis|accessdate=6 October 2015}} is a species of flowering tree in the Bougainvillea family, Nyctaginaceae.
Description
The tree has broad, thin leaves, smooth bark and bears clusters of green sweet-smelling flowers that mature into sticky barbed seeds.
Dispersal occurs when seeds stick to bird feathers. Vegetative reproduction frequently results when fallen branches sprout or basal shoots develop into new trees.
Distribution
Pisonia trees are distributed throughout the coral cays of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species often dominates mature coral cay vegetation, growing in dense, thick strands up to {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. Pisonia wood is rather weak and soft and decays rapidly when the trees fall.
Pisonia forests are a common nesting site for seabirds. One of the best remaining Pisonia forests can be found on Palmyra Atoll.
St. Pierre Island, Farquhar Group, was once covered by a Pisonia grandis forest. This forest disappeared after guano mining between 1906 and 1972. The natural vegetation was destroyed in order to scrape the guano and the island's landscape became barren.{{aut|Piggott, C.J.}} (1961): Notes on some of the Seychelles Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin 83: 1-10. [http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/duffy/ARB/076-84/83.pdf PDF fulltext] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060913131714/http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/duffy/ARB/076-84/83.pdf |date=2006-09-13 }}
Uses
The leaves are traditionally used as a leaf vegetable in some countries.[http://anpsa.org.au/APOL5/mar97-2.html Capricornia Cuisine: Bush Tucker in Central Queensland] They were part of the traditional Maldivian cuisine in dishes such as mas huni.Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom, Barcelona 1999, {{ISBN|84-7254-801-5}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.natureseychelles.org/knowledge-centre/news-and-stories/73-seabirds-killed-by-trees-accident-or-design Nature Seychelles - Seabird deaths caused by P. grandis]. Accessed 4 Aug 2019.
- [https://www.academia.edu/4398927/Eating_on_the_Islands_-_As_times_have_changed_so_has_the_Maldives_unique_cuisine_and_culture Eating on the Islands - As times have changed, so has the Maldives' unique cuisine and culture]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2383292}}
Category:Caryophyllales of Australia
Category:Flora of the Coral Sea Islands Territory
Category:Flora of the Maldives
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