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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Aleurites''
| image = Aleuritesmoluccana1web.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Aleurites moluccana'' (Candlenut)
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Euphorbiaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Crotonoideae]]
| tribus = [[Aleuritideae]]
| subtribus = [[Aleuritinae]]
| genus = '''''Aleurites'''''
| genus_authority = [[Johann Reinhold Forster|J.R.Forst.]] & [[Georg Forster|G.Forst.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See section [[Aleurites#Species|Species]].
}}
'''''Aleurites''''' is a small arborescent genus of plants in the tropical and subtropical regions of [[Asia]], the [[Pacific]] and [[South America]], belonging to the Spurge family [[Euphorbiaceae]].
These monoecious, evergreen [[tree]]s are [[Perennial plant|perennials]] or semi-perennials. These are large trees, 15-40 m tall, with spreading drooping and rising branches.
The [[Leaf|leaves]] are alternate, lobate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate with minute stipules. They are pubescent on both sides when young, but in a later stage they become glabrous.
[[Image:Aleuritesmoluccana2web.jpg|thumb|left|Candlenut (''Aleurites moluccana'')]]
The [[inflorescence]] consists of terminal plumes of small, creamy white bell-shaped fragrant [[flower]]s, branching from the base. The flowers are usually bisexual, with a solitary pistillate flower at the end of each major axis. The lateral cymes are staminate. There are five or six imbricate petals. The staminate flowers are mostly longer and thinner than the pistillate flowers, with 17-32 glabrous stamens in four whorls. The pistillate flowers have a superior [[ovary (plants)|ovary]].
The [[fruit]]s are rather large drupes with a fleshy exocarp and a thin, woody endocarp. They vary in shape, according to the numbers of developed locules. They contain oleiferous [[seed]]s. These seeds are [[poison]]ous.
The oil has been used as a [[paraffin]], lubricant or as a constituent of varnish, paint or soap. It has also been used as baking oil, after removing the poisonous substances.
Some deciduous [[China|Chinese]] species are now classified under a separate species ''Vernicia''.
The name ''Aleurites'' is derived from a [[Greek language|Greek]] word meaning "wheaten flour", because of the appearance of the lower surface of the leaf.
===Species===
The most widespread species is the [[Candlenut]] (''Aleurites moluccana''), occurring from tropical Asia, the Pacific, from India to China and Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. Some botanists only recognize two species, ''Aleurites moluccana'' and ''Aleurites rockinghamensis''.
*''[[Aleurites angustifolia]]'' - ([[New Caledonia]])
*''[[Aleurites cordata]]'' - ([[China]])
*''[[Aleurites erratica]]''
*''[[Aleurites fordii]]'' - varnish tree, tung tree, tung oil tree, China wood oil tree (China)
*''[[Aleurites integrifolia]]'' - (New Caledonia)
*''[[Aleurites javanica]]'' - ([[Java (island)|Java]])
*''[[Candlenut|Aleurites moluccana]]'' - Indian walnut, candlenut tree, country walnut, aburagiri, ama
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''floccosa'' - ([[New Guinea]])
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''katoi'' - ([[Hawaii]])
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''moluccana''
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''rockinghamensis'' - (New Guinea, [[Australia]])
*''Aleurites montana'' (now ''[[Vernicia montana]]'') - wood-oil tree, mu oil tree.
*''[[Aleurites pentaphylla]]'' - ([[East Asia]])
*''[[Aleurites remyi]]'' - ([[Hawaii]])
*''[[Aleurites saponaria]]'' - ([[Philippines]])
*''[[Aleurites triloba]]'' - ([[Pacific]])
[[Image:Aleuritesmoluccana3web.jpg|thumb|200px|Candlenut seedling]]
The genus is also known by the [[synonymy|synonym]] ''Camirium'' [[Gaertn.]]
==References==
* Stuppy, W., P.C. van Welzen, P. Klinratana & M.C.T. Posa. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). ''Blumea'' 44: 73-98.
[[Category:Euphorbiaceae]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Aleurites''
| image = Aleuritesmoluccana1web.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Aleurites moluccana'' (Candlenut)
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Euphorbiaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Crotonoideae]]
| tribus = [[Aleuritideae]]
| subtribus = [[Aleuritinae]]
| genus = '''''Aleurites'''''
| genus_authority = [[Johann Reinhold Forster|J.R.Forst.]] & [[Georg Forster|G.Forst.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See section [[Aleurites#Species|Species]].
}}
'''''Aleurites''''' is a small arborescent genus of plants in the tropical and subtropical regions of [[Asia]], the [[Pacific]] and [[South America]], belonging to the Spurge family [[Euphorbiaceae]].
These monoecious, evergreen [[tree]]s are [[Perennial plant|perennials]] or semi-perennials. These are large trees, 15-40 m tall, with spreading drooping and rising branches.
The [[Leaf|leaves]] are alternate, lobate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate with minute stipules. They are pubescent on both sides when young, but in a later stage they become glabrous.
[[Image:Aleuritesmoluccana2web.jpg|thumb|left|Candlenut (''Aleurites moluccana'')]]
The [[inflorescence]] consists of terminal plumes of small, creamy white bell-shaped fragrant [[flower]]s, branching from the base. The flowers are usually bisexual, with a solitary pistillate flower at the end of each major axis. The lateral cymes are staminate. There are five or six imbricate petals. The staminate flowers are mostly longer and thinner than the pistillate flowers, with 17-32 glabrous stamens in four whorls. The pistillate flowers have a superior [[ovary (plants)|ovary]].
The [[fruit]]s are rather large drupes with a fleshy exocarp and a thin, woody endocarp. They vary in shape, according to the numbers of developed locules. They contain oleiferous [[seed]]s. These seeds are [[poison]]ous.
The oil has been used as a [[paraffin]], lubricant or as a constituent of varnish, paint or soap. It has also been used as baking oil, after removing the poisonous substances.
Some deciduous [[China|Chinese]] species are now classified under a separate species ''Vernicia''.
The name ''Aleurites'' is derived from a [[Greek language|Greek]] word meaning "wheaten flour", because of the appearance of the lower surface of the leaf.
===Species===
The most widespread species is the [[Candlenut]] (''Aleurites moluccana''), occurring from tropical Asia, the Pacific, from India to China and Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. Some botanists only recognize two species, ''Aleurites moluccana'' and ''Aleurites rockinghamensis''.
*''[[Aleurites angustifolia]]'' - ([[New Caledonia]])
*''[[Aleurites cordata]]'' - ([[China]])
*''[[Aleurites erratica]]''
*''[[Aleurites fordii]]'' - varnish tree, tung tree, tung oil tree, China wood oil tree (China)
*''[[Aleurites integrifolia]]'' - (New Caledonia)
*''[[Aleurites javanica]]'' - ([[Java (island)|Java]])
*''[[Candlenut|Aleurites moluccana]]'' - Indian walnut, candlenut tree, country walnut, aburagiri, ama
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''floccosa'' - ([[New Guinea]])
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''katoi'' - ([[Hawaii]])
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''moluccana''
**''Aleurites moluccana'' var. ''rockinghamensis'' - (New Guinea, [[Australia]])
*''Aleurites montana'' (now ''[[Vernicia montana]]'') - wood-oil tree, mu oil tree.
*''[[Aleurites pentaphylla]]'' - ([[East Asia]])
*''[[Aleurites remyi]]'' - ([[Hawaii]])
*''[[Aleurites saponaria]]'' - ([[Philippines]])
*''[[Aleurites triloba]]'' - ([[Pacific]])
[[Image:Aleuritesmoluccana3web.jpg|thumb|200px|Candlenut seedling]]
The genus is also known by the [[synonymy|synonym]] ''Camirium'' [[Gaertn.]]
==References==
* Stuppy, W., P.C. van Welzen, P. Klinratana & M.C.T. Posa. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). ''Blumea'' 44: 73-98.
[[Category:Euphorbiaceae]]
