Soulamea amara
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Soulamea amara 4zz.jpg
| image_caption = At Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Soulamea
| species = amara
| authority = Lam.
| synonyms =
{{Species list
| Cardiocarpus amarus | (Lam.) Reinw.
| Cardiophora hindsii | Benth.
}}
}}
Soulamea amara is a plant in the family Simaroubaceae. It is native to maritime Southeast Asia and some islands of the western Pacific.
Description
Soulamea amara grows as a shrub or tree up to {{cvt|5|m|0}} tall, occasionally to {{cvt|15|m|-1}} tall. The leaves are oblong to obovate and measure up to {{cvt|35|cm|0}} long and up to {{cvt|12|cm|0}} wide. The {{plantgloss|inflorescence|inflorescences}} measure up to {{cvt|12|cm|0}} long. The fruits feature a hard {{plantgloss|pericarp}}.
Taxonomy
Soulamea amara was described in 1785 by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. The specific epithet amara means 'bitter', referring to the taste of plant parts.
Distribution and habitat
Soulamea amara is native to Borneo, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu. Its habitat is on or near beaches and coral reefs.
Conservation
Soulamea amara has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is broadly distributed. However, it is threatened by deforestation and by conversion of land in its habitat for agriculture and plantations. The species' presence in any protected areas is unknown.
Uses
References
{{Reflist | refs =
{{cite POWO |title=Soulamea amara Lam. |id=814139-1 |access-date=24 December 2024}}
{{cite book |last1=Kulip |first1=Julius |last2=Wong |first2=K. M. |date=1995 |contribution=Soulamea Lam. |editor1-last=Soepadmo |editor1-first=E. |editor-link=Engkik Soepadmo |editor2-last=Wong |editor2-first=K. M. |title=Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak |volume=1 |pages=440, 442 |publisher=Forest Research Institute Malaysia |isbn=983-9592-34-3}}
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q18083149}}
Category:Flora of the Caroline Islands
Category:Flora of the Marshall Islands