Semecarpus cuneiformis

{{Short description|Species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Semecarpus cuneiformis 165359979.jpg

| image_caption = In Taiwan

| genus = Semecarpus

| species = cuneiformis

| authority = Blanco

| synonyms = {{Collapsible list

| bullets = on

|Semecarpus elmeri {{Au|Perkins}}

|Semecarpus ferrugineus {{Au|Merr.}}

|Semecarpus megabotrys {{Au|Merr.}}

|Semecarpus merrillianus {{Au|Perkins}}

|Semecarpus micranthus {{Au|Perkins}}

|Semecarpus obtusifolius {{Au|Merr.}}

|Semecarpus perrottetii {{Au|Marchand}}

|Semecarpus philippinensis {{Au|Engl.}}

|Semecarpus pilosus {{Au|Merr.}}

|Semecarpus ridleyi {{Au|Merr.}}

|Semecarpus taftianus {{Au|Perkins}}

|Semecarpus thyrsoideus {{Au|Elmer}}

|Semecarpus whitfordii {{Au|Merr.}}

}}

| synonyms_ref =

}}

Semecarpus cuneiformis is a tree in the cashew and sumac family Anacardiaceae.{{cite web|url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:71220-1|title= Semecarpus cuneiformis Blanco|author=|date=n.d.|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|access-date= August 23, 2020}} The specific epithet {{lang|la|cuneiformis}} is from the Latin meaning 'wedge-shaped', referring to the leaf base.

Description

Semecarpus cuneiformis grows as a tree up to {{convert|15|m|-1}} tall with a trunk diameter of up to {{convert|20|cm|0|abbr=on}}. The leaves measure up to {{convert|28|cm|0|abbr=on}} long. Its roundish fruits measure up to {{convert|0.7|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in diameter.

Distribution and habitat

Semecarpus cuneiformis grows naturally in Borneo, the Philippines, Sulawesi, the Lesser Sunda Islands and Taiwan. Its habitat is lowland forests from sea-level to {{convert|100|m|-2|abbr=on}} altitude.

Semecarpus cuneiformis figures in the etiological legend of the community of Krus Na Ligas in Quezon City, Philippines, which is famous for adjoining the campus of the University of the Philippines Diliman. According to the legend, the earliest settlers of the village noticed that a particular specimen of Semecarpus cuneiformis, known locally as a "Ligas" tree had branches which took the form of a cross. The highly religious settlers thus named their community after the tree.{{Cite web |url=https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-and-barangay-krus-na-ligas-intersections-of-history/ |title=UP and Barangay Krus Na Ligas: Intersections of History |last=Llaneta |first=Celeste Ann Castillo |date=2019-09-13 |website=University of the Philippines |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917071506/https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/up-and-barangay-krus-na-ligas-intersections-of-history/ |archive-date=2019-09-17 |access-date=2019-09-17}}

References

{{Reflist | refs =

{{ThePlantList | id = tro-50323917 | taxon = Semecarpus cuneiformis | authority = Blanco | accessdate = 20 Jul 2015 }}

{{cite book | last1 = Kochummen | first1 = K. M. | date = 1996 | contribution = Semecarpus cuneiformis Blanco | contribution-url = http://www.chm.frim.gov.my/backup/TFSSvol1_3.pdf | editor1-last = Soepadmo | editor1-first = E. | editor2-last = Wong | editor2-first = K. M. | editor3-last = Saw | editor3-first = L. G. | title = Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak | volume = 2 | pages = 77 | publisher = Forest Research Institute Malaysia | isbn = 983-9592-56-4 | url = http://www.chm.frim.gov.my/Resources/Publications/Books/Floras/Tree-Flora-of-Sabah-and-Sarawak.aspx | version = (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions) | accessdate = 20 Jul 2015 }}

}}

cuneiformis

Category:Trees of Malesia

Category:Trees of Taiwan

Category:Plants described in 1837

Category:Taxa named by Francisco Manuel Blanco