Cochinchina Horseradish Tree (Hyperanthera cochinchinensis)

Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Hyperanthera cochinchinensis: Historical Profile and Botanical Synonyms

Historical botanical records from Southeast Asia document the taxon Hyperanthera cochinchinensis as a synonym of the widely cultivated drumstick tree. Originally described from the Indochina region, this name represents a fast-growing deciduous tree adapted to tropical climates.

Although the name is no longer in active use by modern taxonomists, it remains an important reference in historical literature. It highlights the early documentation of tropical flora in Asia.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
  • ∟ eudicots
  • ∟ Superrosids
  • ∟ rosids
  • ∟ malvids
  • ∟ order Brassicales
  • ∟ genus Moringa (Moringa tree of life)
  • ∟ genus Hyperanthera (Horseradish Tree Genus)
  • ∟ species Hyperanthera cochinchinensis (Cochinchina Horseradish Tree)

Living Pulse

Morphology

This species displays a corky bark and soft wood, often growing rapidly into a small or medium-sized tree. The leaves are tripinnate and feature numerous small, rounded leaflets arranged along a slender rachis.

Its white or cream-colored flowers are fragrant and grow in drooping clusters. The resulting seedpods are long, deeply ribbed, and contain three-angled seeds with thin wings.

Applications

The plant represented by this name is famous for its multipurpose utility, including edible leaves, pods, and roots. Additionally, the seeds are used for oil extraction and as a natural coagulant for water clarification.

Interesting facts

Portuguese missionary and botanist João de Loureiro first described this species in his 1790 work Flora Cochinchinensis. The specific epithet refers to Cochinchina, a historical region in southern Vietnam where the plant was observed.

Geography of distribution

  • Vietnam
  • Лаос
  • Камбоджа
  • China

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • World Flora Online (WFO)
  • International Plant Names Index (IPNI)

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos

See also

True Araucarias

True Araucarias

Araucaria sect. Araucaria

Araucaria sect. Araucaria is a botanical section of evergreen conifers native to South America. It …