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Elaeocarpus
Elaeocarpus sylvestris
ホルトノキ
An evergreen tall tree growing in coastal forests of warm regions. It is distinctive for the red-colored senescent leaves interspersed among the evergreen foliage. White fringed flowers bloom in summer, followed by olive-like blue-purple fruits.
Identification Points
- ✓An evergreen tree with old leaves turning red before dropping (red leaves mixed among green foliage)
- ✓Petals are white and finely fringed
- ✓Fruits are ellipsoid, turning dark blue when ripe
Habitat
Coastal forests and hill forests in warm regions
Season
July–August (flowers); October–December (fruit)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Leaf dissection
Dissected
Leaf shape
Round
Habitat
Coastal
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Petal fusion
Fused
Stipules
Present
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Phylogenetic Positionホルトノキ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Celastrales > Elaeocarpaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene
Evolution Notes
Elaeocarpaceae belongs to the order Oxalidales and is distributed across Asia, Australia, and South America. The fringed petals are an example of morphological evolution specialized for insect attraction.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification