Melanochyla elmeri

Melanochyla elmeri is a flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to Borneo.

Description

Melanochyla elmeri grows as a tree up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to. The fissured bark is brown to grey. The leathery leaves are oblong or obovate and measure up to long and to wide. The, in, feature white flowers. The smooth, ellipsoid fruits measure up to long.

Taxonomy

Melanochyla elmeri was first described in 1929 by American botanist Elmer Drew Merrill in the University of California Publications in Botany. The type specimen was collected in Sabah in Borneo. The specific epithet elmeri honours the American botanist Adolph D. E. Elmer.

Distribution and habitat

Melanochyla elmeri is endemic to Borneo. Its habitat is generally in lowland swamp forests to elevations of, but also on Mount Kinabalu to elevations of.

Conservation

Melanochyla elmeri has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Its habitat is threatened by deforestation and by conversion of land for plantations, agriculture and urban development. However, the species is widespread and is present in a number of protected areas.