Alyxia

Alyxia
Alyxia buxifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Rauvolfioideae
Tribe:	Alyxieae
Genus:	Alyxia Banks ex R.Br.[1]
Species
Presently 106, see text
Synonyms[2]
Alexia Wight Discalyxia Markgr. Gynopogon J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Paralstonia Baill. Pulassarium Rumph. ex Kuntze

Alyxia is an Australasian genus of flowering plant in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains at present 106 species, but Alyxia stellata and A. tisserantii are very variable, might be cryptic species complexes, and are need of further study. It consists of shrubby, climbing or scrambling plants. This genus occurs in China, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Australia, New Caledonia and the Pacific Islands. There are 14 species in Australia, 21 in New Caledonia and 7 in the other Pacific Islands, including Hawaiʻi.^[3]

The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three to seven. There are colleters (groups or tufts of mucilaginous secretory hairs) present in the leaf axils. The inflorescence is axillary or terminal with solitary flowers or simple cymes. Flowers consist of five petals and five sepals. The flowers have a slender tube which expands abruptly. The stamens have short filamens and are inserted in the upper half of the corolla. The fruit is a pair of drupes, originating from each flower.^[3]

Dysentery Bush (A. buxifolia) is used in herbalism and was made into a patented remedy by Albert Aspinall. Maile (A. oliviformis), endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, has sweet-smelling leaves and is much used for lei; formerly it was reserved for aliʻi (nobility), but today it can be used by anyone and is a popular wedding decoration on the islands. Maile also provides food for Thyrocopa caterpillars and belid weevils of the genus Proterhinus. Alyxia spp. are also used in Jamu.

Species

Chain Fruit (Alyxia ruscifolia)

Alyxia angustifolia Alyxia bracteolosa Rich ex A.Gray Alyxia buxifolia – Dysentery Bush, Sea Box Alyxia celebica Alyxia daphnoides Alyxia evansii Alyxia fascicularis Alyxia flavescens Alyxia floribunda Alyxia fosbergii Alyxia ganophylla Alyxia globosa Alyxia graciliflora Alyxia gynopogon Alyxia ilicifolia F.Muell. Alyxia insularis Alyxia kwalotabaa Alyxia lackii Alyxia levinei Alyxia lindii F.Muell. - Alyxia Vine Alyxia linearifolia Alyxia longiloba Alyxia magnifolia Alyxia manusiana Alyxia marginata Alyxia menglungensis Alyxia minutiflora Alyxia mucronata Alyxia muguma

Alyxia obtusifolia R.Br. Alyxia odorata Alyxia oleifolia Alyxia oliviformis Gaudich. – Maile (Hawaiʻi) Alyxia papuana Alyxia poyaensis Alyxia quadrata Alyxia racemosa Alyxia reinwardtii Alyxia ruscifolia R.Br. – Chain Fruit Alyxia scabrida Alyxia schlechteri Alyxia sharpei Alyxia siamensis Alyxia sinensis Alyxia solomonensis Alyxia spicata R.Br. Alyxia squamulosa C.Moore & F.Muell. Alyxia stellata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Roem. & Schult. Alyxia taiwanensis Alyxia thailandica Alyxia tisserantii Alyxia tropica Alyxia uniflora Alyxia veillonii Alyxia vera Alyxia villilimba

Footnotes

1. "Alyxia Banks ex R. Br.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
2. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Retrieved May 21, 2014.
3. Middleton (2000, 2001)

References

• Middleton, D.J. (2000): Revision of Alyxia (Apocynaceae). Part 1: Asia and Malesia. Blumea 45: 1-146.
• Middleton, D.J. (2001): Revision of Alyxia (Apocynaceae). Part 2: Australia and Pacific Islands. Blumea 46: 1-93.