Brassiodendron
Encyclopedia
Brassiodendron is a genus
of 1 species of plants, in the laurel family Lauraceae
. They have a broad distribution across South East Asia
, Australia
and into the western Pacific Ocean
. Its only species
, Brassiodendron fragrans CKAllen, is native to Papua New Guinea
. The genus was described by Caroline Kathryn Allen published in Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 23 (2): 153-154, in 1942. It was more related to the genus Endiandra
than others in Lauraceae. It is threatened by habitat loss. Original name data for the species was provided by J. Solomon from "TROPICOS".
In 05/29/2011 Jens G. Rohwer on released new details of the flower that distinguish this genus.
The ecological requirements of the genus, are those of the laurel forest
in tropical mountain cloud forest
, and like most of their counterparts laurifolia in the world, it is vigorous species with a great ability to populate the habitat that is conducive. The natural habitat is rainforest which are cloud-covered for much of the year. These species is found in forests that face threats of destruction by human deforestation
. It could caused the extinction of the genus across the restricted distribution area.
Because of the special lack of worldwide knowledge about the family lauraceae
in general, very little is known about their diversity. The knowledge of this family to national level, is that to be expected in countries with limited economic means with the vast majority of species indeterminate or even poorly determined. On the other hand, a high percentage of recently described new species come from collections made in these countries. Therefore an increase in the study of family, at national level, is of utmost importance for the progress of the systematics of the family in general. Recent monographs of genera of lauraceae in small and medium genus, up to 100 species, have produced a high increase in the number of known species. This high increase in the number of species is expected for other genus, particularly for those with more than 150 species recorded, bringing an expected considerable increase in the total number of species of the family.
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 1 species of plants, in the laurel 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...
. They have a broad distribution across South East 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...
, 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 into 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...
. Its only 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...
, Brassiodendron fragrans CKAllen, is native to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The genus was described by Caroline Kathryn Allen published in Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 23 (2): 153-154, in 1942. It was more related to the genus Endiandra
Endiandra
Endiandra is a genus of approximately 100 species of plants, mainly trees in the laurel family Lauraceae. They have a broad distribution across South East Asia, Australia and into the western Pacific Ocean....
than others in Lauraceae. It is threatened by habitat loss. Original name data for the species was provided by J. Solomon from "TROPICOS".
In 05/29/2011 Jens G. Rohwer on released new details of the flower that distinguish this genus.
The ecological requirements of the genus, are 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...
in tropical mountain 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...
, and like most of their counterparts laurifolia in the world, it is vigorous species with a great ability to populate the habitat that is conducive. The natural habitat is rainforest which are cloud-covered for much of the year. These species is found in forests that face threats of destruction by human deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. It could caused the extinction of the genus across the restricted distribution area.
Because of the special lack of worldwide knowledge about 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...
in general, very little is known about their diversity. The knowledge of this family to national level, is that to be expected in countries with limited economic means with the vast majority of species indeterminate or even poorly determined. On the other hand, a high percentage of recently described new species come from collections made in these countries. Therefore an increase in the study of family, at national level, is of utmost importance for the progress of the systematics of the family in general. Recent monographs of genera of lauraceae in small and medium genus, up to 100 species, have produced a high increase in the number of known species. This high increase in the number of species is expected for other genus, particularly for those with more than 150 species recorded, bringing an expected considerable increase in the total number of species of the family.