No Data Found
Mesua ferrea
Ceylon Ironwood, Penaga Lilin
Intermediate Sensitivity
| Species Name | Mesua ferrea |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Ceylon Ironwood, Penaga Lilin |
| Family | Calophyllaceae |
| Genus | Mesua |
| Taxonomic Synonyms/Past Names | |
| Taxonomic Notes |
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Species Information
1. Description
- Evergreen tree growing up to 24 m tall with a very dense, narrowly conical crown and slender drooping branches. Leaves 5-13 cm long, narrowly elliptic, pale or white (glaucous) on the under-surface, opposite. Flowers large, showy, 5-8 cm across, white, very fragrant, solitary or in pairs at leaf axils. Ovoid to ellipsoid fruits 2.8-3.5 cm long, seated on persistent woody sepals at the base.
2. Tree Size
Large (>15 m)
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Small (4-10 m) (0)
Medium (10-15 m) (0)
Large (>15 m) (1)
Unknown (0)
3. Full Distribution
- Sri Lanka, south-west India, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Peninsular Malaysia
4. Habitat and Ecology
- Lowland evergreen forests to 500 m
5. Altitude (in meters)
- Up to 500 m
6. Landscape Type
Urban Streets, Blue-green Corridors, Small Urban Green Spaces
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Urban Streets (1)
Blue-green Corridors (1)
Small Urban Green Spaces (1)
Coastal Fronts (0)
Unknown (0)
7. IUCN Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
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Not Evaluated (1)
Data Deficient (0)
Least Concern (0)
Near Threatened (0)
Vulnerable (0)
Endangered (0)
Critically Endangered (0)
Extinct in the Wild (0)
Extinct (0)
Unknown (0)
8. Malaysian Red List from MyBIS
Not Evaluated
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Not Evaluated (1)
Not Applicable (0)
Data Deficient (0)
Least Concern (0)
Near Threatened (0)
Vulnerable (0)
Endangered (0)
Critically Endangered (0)
Regionally Extinct (0)
Extinct in the Wild (0)
Extinct (0)
Unknown (0)
9. Are more than 100 individuals available in local nurseries?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
10. How would you characterise the growth rate of this species?
Slow
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Fast (0)
Medium (0)
Slow (1)
Unknown (0)
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11. Does this species have an invasive root system?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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- The tree is buttressed at the base and often seen planted in open spaces. [1]
12. Is this species damaging or does it have staining resin or sap?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
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- The tree exudes an aromatic white resin when it is wounded. [1]
13. Does this species produce large and/or staining fruits?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
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- The tree is often planted for its ornamental foliage and flowers. Its fruits are ovoid to globose capsules, 1-2 seeds. [1]
14. Does this species produce substances in its bark, leaves, fruits and/or seeds that are poisonous or harmful to humans?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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- There are some concerns about the flowers. In laboratory tests, extracts of the flowers terminated the pregnancy of/resulted in a lack of implantation in rats. [1]
15. Does this species have specific lighting requirements?
Full sun
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Full sun (1)
Partial sun & shade (0)
Full shade (0)
Partial shade (0)
Unknown (0)
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16. How would you characterise the air pollution tolerance of this species?
High
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Low (0)
Medium (0)
High (1)
Unknown (0)
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17. How would you characterise the soil pollution tolerance of this species?
Medium
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Low (0)
Medium (1)
High (0)
Unknown (0)
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- It prefers fertile loam soil. [1]
18. Does this species have specific soil ph requirements?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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- Prefers a pH range of 5.0-5.5 but tolerates 4.3-6.9 [1]
19. Does this species have specialised habitat requirements?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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- Occurs in moist lowland forests associated with riverine sites. [1]
20. Does this species occur/survive in habitats prone to saltwater intrusion?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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21. Does this species occur/survive at locations that experience high temperatures?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
No Data Found
- Withstands temperatures as high as 45 ºC. [1]
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22. Can this species tolerate inundation for >1 month?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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23. Can this species tolerate water absence for >1 month?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
- Specimens in Shah Alam, Selangor, were tolerant of an El Niño event.
No Data Found
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24. Can this species tolerate storm conditions (e.g., strong winds)?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
- Specimens remained undamaged after storms.
No Data Found
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25. Does this species have specific humidity requirements?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
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26. Is this species highly prone to predation, parasitism, and/or disease?
No
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Yes (0)
No (1)
Unknown (0)
- Specimens in Perak, Shah Alam (Selangor), and Johor showed no signs of predation, parasitism, or disease.
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27. Please provide any additional information for this species in the context of climate change resilience and/or vulnerability.
-
Insufficient Data
28. Does this species have biodiversity value (e.g., provides food or habitat, or increases landscape connectivity for urban fauna)?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
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29. Does this species have cultural value or provide products that are of some use to humans?
Yes
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Yes (1)
No (0)
Unknown (0)
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- It is highly sacred in India. Provides food (herbs and spices), has medicinal properties, and is used for timber and to make products. [1]
Contributors: anonymous
Last Updated: 2023-03-15
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