Homalium deplanchei
Homalium deplanchei is a tree of the family of the Flacourtiaceae , or Salicaceae according to phylogenetic classification.
Kind
The species is endemic. Its name of species was given to him in the honor of the botanist Emile Deplanche. The name of kind Homalium drift of the Greek “omalos” which means equal, regular. There exist 18 species of this kind in New Caledonia and 180 in the world only in tropical area.
Aspect and general form
This species belongs to the largest trees of the dry forest. It has a well spread out summit, with crawling branches, very fine.
Cut
It can reach 10 meters in height, but is confined to 5-6 meters in forest.
Bark
The bark is grisâtre, slightly rough, glaze of Lenticelle S of very lengthened form and white color.
Sheets
The sheets are coriaces, of lengthened, and slightly round form. Their edge always corrugated, is even notched. They measure 4 to 8 cm length for 2 to 4 cm broad. Their color is green dark shining above and clear green shining below. The principal Nervure is more or less reddish and sometimes even the secondary veins. The Pétiole of the sheets is thick and reddish and can reach 10 cm length.
Flowers
The flowers are gathered on stems longer than the sheets (12 cm maximum) which hang at the end of the branches. The flowers are tight and small (3 mm length). White color with greenish white good, they do not feel.
Reproduction
Flowering does not seem to be related to one season. The fruits are capsules from 5 to 6 mm length. They have the lengthened top, are coriaces and open at the top by valves which release from seeds very few.
Place in our forest dries
This tree is localized in the basic more or less dense forests and average altitude. It provides a good wood. He is not threatened by the stags which do not consume its sheets: in the areas where the stag is particularly abundant, there exist forests which are made up only of this tree!