Chisocheton cumingianus

Chisocheton cumingianus is a tree in the family Meliaceae. The tree is named for the English naturalist Hugh Cuming. Habitat is rain forests from sea-level to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) elevation. C. cumingianus is found from India and tropical China through Indochina and throughout Malaysia.^[4] In the Philippines, the seeds of C. cumingianus (known locally as balukanag) are used to make a non-drying oil either for traditional medicine or as fuel for oil lamps.^[5]

Chisocheton cumingianus
Fruits of Chisocheton cumingianus subsp. balansae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Meliaceae
Genus:	Chisocheton
Species:	C. cumingianus
Binomial name
Chisocheton cumingianus (C.DC.) Harms[2]
Subspecies
C. cumingianus subsp. balansae (C.DC.) Mabb. C. cumingianus subsp. cumingianus C. cumingianus subsp. kinabaluensis (Merr.) Mabb.
Synonyms[3]
Dasycoleum cumingianum C.DC.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognised:^[3] C. cumingianus subsp. balansae, C. cumingianus subsp. cumingianus, and C. cumingianus subsp. kinabaluensis.

C. cumingianus subsp. balansae

This subspecies occurs on the Asian mainland.

C. cumingianus subsp. cumingianus

This subspecies is native to Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

C. cumingianus subsp. kinabaluensis

This subspecies is endemic to Borneo and known only from Sabah. It grows as a large tree. The inflorescences are borne on the bole and are often very close to the ground.^[4]

References

1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Chisocheton cumingianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T145791124A145791126. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T145791124A145791126.en. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
2. "Chisocheton cumingianus (C.DC.) Harms". The Plant List. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
3. Chisocheton cumingianus (C.DC.) Harms. Plants of the World Online. Accessed 5 April 2023.
4. Mabberley, David J.; Sing, Anne M. (March 2007). "Chisocheton cumingianus (C.DC.) Harms". In Soepadmo, E.; Saw, L. G.; Chung, R. C. K.; Kiew, Ruth (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). Vol. 6. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 121–123. ISBN 978-983-2181-89-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
5. Orosa, Rosalinda L. "Tree of the month (part2) Balukanag (Chisocheton cumingianus)". PhilStar Global. Retrieved 17 June 2018.