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Helicia excelsa

Species of flowering plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Helicia excelsa is a plant in the family Proteaceae. It is native to tropical Asia.

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
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Description

Helicia excelsa grows as a tree up to 20 m (70 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 25 cm (10 in). The bark is dark grey to blackish. Inflorescences bear up to three reddish brown flowers. The fruit drys black and is ellipsoid, up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long.[3] The timber is locally used in construction.[1]

Taxonomy

Helicia excelsa was first described as Roupala excelsa by the Scottish botanist William Roxburgh in 1820.[4] In 1834, Carl Ludwig Blume transferred the species to the genus Helicia.[2] The type specimen was collected in Chittagong (present-day Bangladesh). The specific epithet excelsa means 'lofty', referring to the tree's growth.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Helicia excelsa is native to Northeast India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh, mainland Southeast Asia, Borneo and Sumatra.[2] Its habitat is in swamp, dipterocarp and montane forests from sea level to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) altitude.[3]

Conservation

Helicia excelsa has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is broadly distributed and is not considered threatened, except in the Andaman Islands where the species is rare.[1]

References

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