Mesua

Mesua
Mesua ferrea foliage
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Calophyllaceae
Genus: Mesua
L.[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Nagassari Adans.
  • Nagatampo Adans.
  • Plagiorrhiza Hallier f.
  • Plinia Blanco
  • Rhynea Scop.
  • Vidalia Fern.-Vill.

Mesua is a genus of flowering plants in the family Calophyllaceae,[2] native to tropical southern and southeast Asia. Common names include ironwood (shared with many other plants) and rose chestnut.

They are evergreen shrubs or small trees growing to 13 m (40 ft) tall, with leaves arranged in opposite pairs.

Species

According to Plants of the World Online, 11 species are currently accepted:[1]

  • Mesua clemensiorum Kosterm. – Vietnam
  • Mesua ferrea L. – India and Sri Lanka to Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, and the Philippines
  • Mesua kochummeniana Whitmore – Peninsular Malaysia
  • Mesua nivenii Whitmore – Peninsular Malaysia
  • Mesua nuda Kosterm. ex Whitmore – Peninsular Malaysia
  • Mesua planigemma Kosterm. – Borneo
  • Mesua pulchella Planch. & Triana – southwestern Sri Lanka
  • Mesua purseglovei Whitmore – Peninsular Malaysia
  • Mesua pustulata (Ridl.) P.S.Ashton – Borneo
  • Mesua sclerophylla Thwaites – southern Sri Lanka
  • Mesua thwaitesii Planch. & Triana – Sri Lanka and southwestern India

Formerly placed here

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mesua L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Stephens, P.F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/