Ochna
Encyclopedia
Ochna is a genus
comprising 86 species
of evergreen trees, shrubs and shrublets belonging to the family
Ochnaceae
. These species are native to tropical woodlands of Africa
or Asia
. Species of this genus are usually called Ochnas or Mickey-mouse plants, a name coming from the shape of the drupelet fruit
. The name of this genus comes from Greek
Ochne, a word used by Homer
and meaning wild pear.
Some species, especially Ochna serrulata (bird's eye plant), are widely cultivated as a decorative plant.
Tropics
, especially in Africa
, Madagascar
, the Mascarene Islands
and Asia
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
comprising 86 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of evergreen trees, shrubs and shrublets belonging to the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Ochnaceae
Ochnaceae
The family Ochnaceae, or wild plane family, comprises mainly trees or shrubs, and more rarely herbaceous plants. Species of the Ochnaceae are found from subtropical to tropical regions. They are best represented in South America...
. These species are native to tropical woodlands of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
or 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...
. Species of this genus are usually called Ochnas or Mickey-mouse plants, a name coming from the shape of the drupelet fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
. The name of this genus comes from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
Ochne, a word used by Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
and meaning wild pear.
Some species, especially Ochna serrulata (bird's eye plant), are widely cultivated as a decorative plant.
Distribution
Species of this genus are found in the Old WorldOld World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
Tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
, especially in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, the Mascarene Islands
Mascarene Islands
The Mascarene Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar comprising Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Cargados Carajos shoals, plus the former islands of the Saya de Malha, Nazareth and Soudan banks...
and 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...
.
Selected species
- Ochna afzeli
- Ochna andamanica
- Ochna angustataOchna angustataOchna angustata is a species of plant in the Ochnaceae family. It is endemic to Mozambique.-Sources:* Bandeira, S. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Ochna arborea arborea - Cape plane, plane ochna
- Ochna arborea oconnorii - Transvaal plane, coolbark ochna
- Ochna awrrulata
- Ochna barbosae - sand plane, sand ochna
- Ochna beddomei
- Ochna beirensisOchna beirensisOchna beirensis is a species of plant in the Ochnaceae family. It is endemic to Mozambique.-Sources:* Bandeira, S. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Ochna brevipes
- Ochna calodendron
- Ochna chilversii
- Ochna ciliata
- Ochna crocea
- Ochna fruticulosa
- Ochna gambleoides
- Ochna glauca - blue-leaved ochna
- Ochna grandis
- Ochna harmandii
- Ochna holstii - red ironwood, red ironwood ochna
- Ochna inermis - stunted plane, boat-fruited ochna
- Ochna indica
- Ochna integerrimaOchna integerrimaOchna integerrima , is a tree species of the family Ochnaceae. The spectacular yellow flowers of this plant make it very popular in southern Vietnam, where the plant is purchased during Tết, the traditional Vietnamese New Year...
- Ochna lucida
- Ochna mauritiana
- Ochna mossambicensis
- Ochna multiflora
- Ochna natalitia - Natal plane, showy ochna
- Ochna obtusata
- Ochna parviflora
- Ochna pretoriensis - Magalies plane, Magalies ochna
- Ochna pruinosa
- Ochna pulchraOchna pulchraOchna pulchra, also known as Lekkerbreek , is a small deciduous southern African tree up to 5 m, commonly found on deep sandy soil and rocky slopes, and belonging to the tropical family of Ochnaceae, which is widespread in Asia and Africa.Its bark is distinctive, peeling in thin flakes to expose...
- peeling plane, peeling ochna - Ochna rufescensOchna rufescensOchna rufescens is a species of plant in the Ochnaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.-Sources:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Ochna serrulataOchna serrulataOchna serrulata is an ornamental garden plant of the Ochnaceae family which is indigenous to South Africa...
(syn. O. atropurpurea, O. multiflora) - carnival ochna - Ochna schweinfurthiana
- Ochna thomasiana (syn. O. kirkii)
- Ochna wallichii
- Ochna wightiana