Altingia

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Altingia is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the family Altingiaceae, formerly often treated in the related family Hamamelidaceae. The genus is native to southeastern Asia, in Bhutan, Cambodia, southern China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

They are evergreen trees growing to 10-50 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, simple unlobed, 4-15 cm long and 2-7 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced in a dense globose inflorescence, similar to those of the related genus Liquidambar.

Some recent genetic evidence suggests Altingia should be merged into a broader circumscription of Liquidambar, but other evidence maintains their separation (Ickert-Bond 2004).

Selected species

Altingia chinensis
Altingia excelsa
Altingia gracilipes
Altingia multinervis
Altingia obovata
Altingia poilanei
Altingia siamensis
Altingia tenuifolia
Altingia yunnanensis

The leaves are used as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera, including Endoclita damor.

References and external links

[Flora of China: Altingia]
Ickert-Bond, S. M. (2004). Botany 2004 Abstracts. [Abstract].

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