Umbrella-Tree (Maesopsis eminii)
Description
Maesopsis eminii is a large, fast-growing semi-deciduous tree growing to a height of about 30 m (100 ft). The trunk is straight with a clear bole for the lowest third. The bark is greyish-brown and deeply furrowed. The branches are mostly horizontal causing the crown to be flat, although it becomes more rounded as the tree ages. The leaves are simple and elliptic-lanceolate, with toothed margins, 6 cm to 15 cm - 2 cm to 5 cm (2.4 in to 5.9 in - 0.8 in to 2.0 in), glossy above, with a gland in each tooth. On the underside of the leaves there are domatia in the axils of the secondary nerves. The inflorescence is a many-flowered cyme up to 5 cm (2 in) long, each greenish-yellow flower having five calyx lobes that are longer than the corolla lobes and a single anther. The fruit is a drupe up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long, green at first, turning yellow and then purple-black as it ripens. It contains a large stone with one or two black seeds inside.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Rosales
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Family: Rhamnaceae
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Genus: Maesopsis
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