Machilus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lauraceae

Lauraceae

The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The family contains about 55 genera and over 3500, perhaps as many as 4000, species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America...

. Is distributed in temperate, tropical and subtropical Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

. Machilus genus include currently more than 100 species, mostly in laurel forest

Laurel forest

Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...

 habitat.

Overview

The distribution of genus Machilus is temperate, subtropical, and tropical forest, occurs Continental China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Borneo, and the Philippines.
The Japan are home to one of the world’s largest bay tree

Bay tree

Bay tree can refer to:* Bay Laurel, the edible Sweet Bay* Umbellularia, the California Bay Laurel* Bay Tree, a Fabergé eggAnd sometimes confused with the poisonous*Prunus laurocerasus...

s, Machilus thunbergii. Massive specimens are found throughout Japan, at temples and shrines, public parks, and of course in their native forests.
The trunk itself can grow to over a meter in diameter. The leaves are dark green and shiny, 8-15 cm long and 3-7 cm wide. This trees are impressive broadleaf hardwoods, outdone only by the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora.
The genus Persea

Persea

Persea is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen trees belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The best-known member of the genus is the avocado, P. americana, widely cultivated in subtropical regions for its large, edible fruit.-Overview:...

 was formerly treated in three subgenera. The Asian Machilus is treated in a separate genus Machilus by many authors, including in the Flora of China, while graft-incompatibility between sgenus Persea and genus Eriodaphne suggests that these too may be better treated as distinct genera, in fact Kostermans

André Joseph Guillaume Henri Kostermans

Dr. André Joseph Guillaume Henri 'Doc' Kostermans was a botanist. He was born in Purworejo, Java, Dutch East Indies, and educated at Utrecht University, taking his doctoral degree in 1936 with a paper on Surinamese Lauraceae.He spent most of his professional life studying the plants of...

 (1993) founded the genus Mutisiopersea for these. Another closely related genus, Beilschmiedia

Beilschmiedia

Beilschmiedia is a genus of trees and shrubs in family Lauraceae. Most of its species grow in tropical climates, but a few of them are native to temperate regions, and they are widespread in tropical Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Central America, the Caribbean,...

, is also sometimes included in Persea.

Many species, present multiple relict refugia from a warmer and wetter Tertiary. Machilus are lauraceae evergreen trees or shrubs from laurel forest

Laurel forest

Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...

 habitat which distributed mainly in the warm tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. Machilus thunbergii is a large, evergreen tree distributed widely in the Asian continent, southern Korea, Japan, the Bonin islands, the Ryukyus, Taiwan and the Philippines.
Machilus kusanoi is endemic to Taiwan and is distributed from the lowlands to 1400 m, but occurs mainly within the Ficus–Machilus Zone (< 500 m, 23–26º C). Machilus thunbergii is distributed at about 200–2000 m and occurs mainly in the Machilus–Castanopsis zone (500–1500 m, 17–23º C) (Su, 1984).
M. thunbergii and M. kusanoi, are two closely related species with different altitudinal distributions, differing in their patterns of genetic diversity and recolonization dispersal. They Was tested in Taiwan in the existence of a single refugium or multiple refugia area from pleistocene. A multiple refugia pattern, explains the phylogeographical patterns of these two closely related species.

Characteristics

The evergreen trees or shrubs in genus Machilus some species are massive broad leaved evergreen trees growing 30 m tall. They are characterized in the family Lauraceae by its leaves alternate, entire, pinnately veined. Inflorescences usually paniculate, terminal, subterminal, or arising from near base of branchlet, with long peduncles or rarely without peduncles. Flowers bisexual, small or larger. Perianth tubes short; perianth lobes 6 in 2 series, equal, subequal, or occasionally outer ones conspicuously smaller than inner ones, usually persistent, rarely deciduous. Fertile stamens 9 in 3 series, anthers 4-celled, 1st and 2nd series of stamens eglandular, anthers introrse, 3rd series of stamens glandular, anthers extrorse or lateral, glands stipitate to sessile. Staminodes in 4th series, sagittate. Ovary sessile; stigmas small, dish-shaped or capitate. Fruit fleshy, globose, rarely ellipsoid or oblong, subtended at base by persistent and reflexed perianth lobes; fruiting pedicel not enlarged or slightly enlarged.

Ecology

This genus reported for Asia, currently includes 100 species, classified into tropical and subtropical south and south east Asia; 82 species in China with 63 endemic species; one additional species (endemic) is of uncertain placement. The genus species distribution range is from Yunnan to Borneo and the Philippines. The differences are ecological adaptations to different environments over a relatively dry-wet climate. Species in less humid environment are smaller or less robust, with less abundant and thinner foliage and have oleifera cells that give trees a more fragrant aroma. Machilus chekiangensis is the most common species tree in forests near Hong Kong.

The asian genus Machilus was placed under the genus Persea

Persea

Persea is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen trees belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The best-known member of the genus is the avocado, P. americana, widely cultivated in subtropical regions for its large, edible fruit.-Overview:...

, due to the close relationship that exists between them. However, the differences found between genus were strong enough to be defined Machilus as a separate genus. Due to the low density, exploitation of the natural populations is to the detriment of the rainforest.

Fruits are fleshy. The fruit, a berry, are an important food source for birds, usually this birds are from specialized genus: Columbidae, Turdidae, etc. Seeds are spread by birds. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory

Biological dispersal

Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...

). In some species the seed dispersal

Seed dispersal

Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, including both abiotic and biotic vectors. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant...

 is carried out by monkey

Monkey

A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...

s, chipmunk

Chipmunk

Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...

s, rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

s, Opossums or fish

Fish

Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...

es.

The ecological requirements of the genus, are mostly those of the laurel forest

Laurel forest

Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...

 and like most of their counterparts laurifolia in the world, they are vigorous species with a great ability to populate the habitat that is conducive. Machilus responded to favourable climatic periods and expanded across the available habitat.

The Machilus genus has led to endemic species on islands, but not so widespread geographically as in the past.

The main centers are found inhabiting wet lands in tropical or subtropical montane forests

Cloud forest

A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...

 or coastal rainforest or coastal temperate forest in low-altitude. Machilus genus have adapted to more extreme conditions but mostly depending on favorable soil edaphic conditions, as presence of aquifers, groundwater, rivers, periodic flows, etc. They does not form large stands but rather small groups of trees with a density of up to one individual per five hectares. Some species have been used for a long time to produce essential oils for the pharmaceuticals industry.

The patterns of speciation in the Machilus genus indicate that since the onset of aridification on the Earth planet, iMachilus diversified in species with the majority of species the product of vicariance

Vicariance

Vicariance is a process by which the geographical range of an individual taxon, or a whole biota, is split into discontinuous parts by the formation of a physical barrier to gene flow or dispersal. Vicariance of whole biotas occurs following large-scale geophysical events such as the uplift of a...

. The fragmentation of once more continuous area facilitated isolation of populations and this likely caused the increase in the rate of speciation.

They grow mostly in tropical forests and cloud forest

Cloud forest

A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...

, But has also been found in stubbles, pastures, in the coastal ranges and interior in wet areas to dry regions.
The islander machilus species can not enduring the bad winter, from continental climate. Those garden cultivated species outside its natural distribution could be killed by continental winter, but there are exception, Machilus thunbergii from Japan, grow in snowland area.

Species

It contains the following species, but this list is incomplete:

• Machilus austroguizhouensis S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus balansae (Airy Shaw) F.N. Wei & S.C. Tang
• Machilus bonii Lecomte
• Machilus boninensis Koidz.
• Machilus breviflora (Benth.) Hemsl.
• Machilus calcicola C.J. Qi
• Machilus cavaleriei H. Lév.
• Machilus chayuensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus chekiangensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus chienkweiensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus chinensis (Benth.) Hemsl.
• Machilus chrysotricha H.W. Li
• Machilus chuanchienensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus cicatricosa S.K. Lee
• Machilus daozhenensis Y.K. Li
• Machilus decursinervis Chun
• Machilus dinganensis S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus dumicola (W.W. Sm.) H.W. Li
• Machilus duthiei King
• Machilus fasciculata H.W. Li
• Machilus foonchewii S.K. Lee
• Machilus fukienensis Hung T. Chang
• Machilus gamblei King ex Hook. f.
• Machilus glabrophylla J.F. Zuo
• Machilus glaucescens (Nees) Wight
• Machilus glaucifolia S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus gongshanensis H.W. Li
• Machilus gracillima Chun
• Machilus grandibracteata S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus grijsii Hance
• Machilus hemsleyi Nakai
• Machilus holadena H. Liu
• Machilus ichangensis Rehder & E.H. Wilson
• Machilus japonica Siebold & Zucc.
• Machilus kurzii King ex Hook. f.
• Machilus kwangtungensis Yen C. Yang
• Machilus lenticellata S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus leptophylla Hand.-Mazz.
• Machilus lichuanensis W.C. Cheng
• Machilus litseifolia S.K. Lee
• Machilus lohuiensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus longipes Hung T. Chang
• Machilus mangdangshanensis Q.F. Zheng
• Machilus melanophylla H.W. Li
• Machilus miaoshanensis F.N. Wei & C.Q. Lin
• Machilus microcarpa Hemsl.
• Machilus minkweiensis S.K. Lee
• Machilus minutiloba S.K. Lee
• Machilus monticola S.K. Lee
• Machilus multinervia H. Liu
• Machilus nakao S.K. Lee
• Machilus nanchuanensis N. Chao
• Machilus nanmu (Oliv.) Hemsl.
• Machilus obovatifolia (Hayata) Kaneh. & Sasaki
• Machilus obscurinervis S.K. Lee
• Machilus oculodracontis Chun
• Machilus oreophila Hance
• Machilus ovatiloba S.K. Lee
• Machilus parabreviflora Hung T. Chang
• Machilus pauhoi Kaneh.
• Machilus phoenicis Dunn
• Machilus platycarpa Chun
• Machilus pomifera (Kosterm.) S.K. Lee
• Machilus pyramidalis H.W. Li
• Machilus rehderi C.K. Allen
• Machilus reticulata K.M. Lan
• Machilus rimosa (Blume) Blume
• Machilus robusta W.W. Sm.
• Machilus rufipes H.W. Li
• Machilus salicina Hance
• Machilus salicoides S.K. Lee
• Machilus shiwandashanica Hung T. Chang
• Machilus shweliensis W.W. Sm.
• Machilus sichourensis H.W. Li
• Machilus sichuanensis N. Chao
• Machilus submultinervia Y.K. Li
• Machilus sumatrana (Kosterm.) F.N. Wei & S.C. Tang
• Machilus tenuipilis H.W. Li
• Machilus thunbergii Siebold & Zucc.
• Machilus tingzhourensis M.M. Lin, T.F. Que & S.Q. Zheng
• Machilus velutina Champ. ex Benth.
• Machilus velutinoides S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus verruculosa H.W. Li
• Machilus versicolora S.K. Lee & F.N. Wei
• Machilus viridis Hand.-Mazz.
• Machilus wangchiana Chun
• Machilus wenshanensis H.W. Li
• Machilus yunnanensis Lecomte
• Machilus zuihoensis Hayata