Horsfieldia kingii

Horsfieldia kingii
Horsfieldia kingii fruits
Horsfieldia kingii leaves
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Myristicaceae
Genus: Horsfieldia
Species:
H. kingii
Binomial name
Horsfieldia kingii
Synonyms[3]
  • Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr.
  • Horsfieldia tetratepala C.Y.Wu & W.T.Wang
  • Myristica kingii Hook.f]] (1886)[4]
  • Palala kingii (Hook.f.) Kuntze

Horsfieldia kingii is a dioecious tree of the family Myristicaceae. It grows up to 20 m tall[5] It is native to mainland Asia, ranging from eastern Nepal through northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand to southern China.[3]

It has large seeds that are dispersed by frugivores such as hornbills and imperial pigeons.[6] The fruiting period is from February to May.[7] The fruit is an arillate capsule and is bi-coloured.[6]

The plant is referred to as ramtamul in Assamese language and is sometimes used as a substitute for betelnut. However, they could be mildly intoxicating to humans.[5] The leaves form a part of the diet of the endangered capped langur.[8]

The species was first described as Myristica kingii by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1886. In 1897 Otto Warburg placed the species in genus Horsfieldia as H. kingii.[3]

References

  1. ↑ de Kok, R. (2024). "Horsfieldia kingii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T231528271A231917967. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T231528271A231917967.en. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Horsfieldia kingii at the International Plant Names Index accessible online
  3. 1 2 3 "Horsfieldia kingii (Hook.f.) Warb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Hooker, JD (1886) Flora of British India 5:106
  5. 1 2 Chaudhuri, AB (1993) Forest Plants of Eastern India APH Publishing p. 434
  6. 1 2 Aparajita Datta & Rawat, GS (2008) Dispersal modes and spatial patterns of tree species in a tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, Mongabay.com Open Access Journal - Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 1(3):163-185 PDF
  7. ↑ Nandini Velho (2008) The effect of terrestrial rodents on seed fate of hornbill-dispersed plants in Pakke Tiger Reserve, Unpublished MSc Thesis Manipal University. pp. 81 PDF Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Kumar, A & Solanki, GS (2008) Population Status and Conservation of Capped Langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus) in and around Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Primate Conservation (23): 97–105 PDF Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
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