Acronychia
Encyclopedia
Acronychia is a genus
of 44 species of plants, mainly shrub
s, in the rue family Rutaceae
. They have a broad distribution covering China
, Southeast Asia
, India
, Malaysia, Indonesia
, Australia
and the islands of the western Pacific Ocean
.
Like all members of the Rutaceae, the plants contain aromatic oils and the leaves are aromatic when crushed.
In Australia, which has 19 species, they are often called aspens though they are not closely related to the true aspen
. Two rare Australian species are Acronychia baeuerlenii
and Acronychia littoralis
.
A medicinally important, widely spread and common species of the tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia is the small tree Acronychia pedunculata
.
, containing antimicrobial and antifungal agents, are widely used in herbal medicines in Asia.
Acronychia acidula is cultivated in bush food orchards in Australia for its sour fruits.
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...
of 44 species of plants, mainly shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s, in the rue family Rutaceae
Rutaceae
Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents...
. They have a broad distribution covering China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Malaysia, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the islands of the western Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Like all members of the Rutaceae, the plants contain aromatic oils and the leaves are aromatic when crushed.
In Australia, which has 19 species, they are often called aspens though they are not closely related to the true aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
. Two rare Australian species are Acronychia baeuerlenii
Acronychia baeuerlenii
Acronychia baeuerlenii is a rare shrub or small tree growing in the most easterly part of Australia. The Byron Bay Acronychia is found between the Richmond River, New South Wales to Lamington National Park just over the border in the state of Queensland.- Habitat :An understorey plant in warm...
and Acronychia littoralis
Acronychia littoralis
Acronychia littoralis is a shrub or small tree growing at the eastern coastal parts of Australia. The Scented Acronychia or Beach Acronychia grows naturally in north eastern New South Wales and a few areas in adjacent Queensland...
.
A medicinally important, widely spread and common species of the tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia is the small tree Acronychia pedunculata
Acronychia pedunculata
Acronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia. Leaves: elliptic to subolong, often with tapered base. Twigs more or less angular, glabrous. Flowers: greenish white; I-acillary, corymbose...
.
Uses
The leaves, fruits, bark and other parts of Acronychia pedunculataAcronychia pedunculata
Acronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia. Leaves: elliptic to subolong, often with tapered base. Twigs more or less angular, glabrous. Flowers: greenish white; I-acillary, corymbose...
, containing antimicrobial and antifungal agents, are widely used in herbal medicines in Asia.
Acronychia acidula is cultivated in bush food orchards in Australia for its sour fruits.
Species
- Acronychia aberrans (Australia)
- Acronychia acidula (Australia)
- Acronychia acronychioides (Australia)
- Acronychia acuminata (Australia)
- Acronychia albiflora(Samoa)
- Acronychia andrewsi
- Acronychia anomala
- Acronychia baeuerleniiAcronychia baeuerleniiAcronychia baeuerlenii is a rare shrub or small tree growing in the most easterly part of Australia. The Byron Bay Acronychia is found between the Richmond River, New South Wales to Lamington National Park just over the border in the state of Queensland.- Habitat :An understorey plant in warm...
(Australia) - Acronychia imperforata (Australia)
- Acronychia littoralisAcronychia littoralisAcronychia littoralis is a shrub or small tree growing at the eastern coastal parts of Australia. The Scented Acronychia or Beach Acronychia grows naturally in north eastern New South Wales and a few areas in adjacent Queensland...
(Australia) - Acronychia octandraAcronychia octandraAcronychia octandra is a rainforest tree in the citrus family, found in eastern Australia. It is one of several Australian trees known as Doughwood. An attractive tree with a spreading crown of relatively large glossy leaves. The specific epithet octandra refers to the eight stamens in the flower.-...
(Australia) - Acronychia pedunculataAcronychia pedunculataAcronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia. Leaves: elliptic to subolong, often with tapered base. Twigs more or less angular, glabrous. Flowers: greenish white; I-acillary, corymbose...
(South and Southeast Asia) - Acronychia pubescensAcronychia pubescensAcronychia pubescens is a rainforest plant in the citrus family, growing in eastern Australia. Common names include Hairy Aspen and Hairy Acronychia.- Description :...
(Australia) - Acronychia suberosaAcronychia suberosaAcronychia suberosa is a rainforest plant in the citrus family, growing in eastern Australia. The common name is the Corky Acronychia. The specific epithet suberosa means corky, referring to the bark on older trees....
(Australia) - Acronychia trifoliolata
- Acronychia wilcoxianaAcronychia wilcoxianaAcronychia wilcoxiana is a rainforest tree in the citrus family, found in eastern Australia. The common name is Silver Aspen. The true aspens of the northern hemisphere belong to the genus Populus in the family Salicaceae.-Taxonomy:...
