Melicope
Melicope is a genus of about 240 species of shrubs and trees in the family Rutaceae, occurring from the Hawaiian Islands across the Pacific Ocean to tropical Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Plants in the genus Melicope have simple or trifoliate leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flowers arranged in panicles, with four sepals, four petals and four or eight stamens and fruit composed of up to four follicles.
Description
Plants in the genus Melicope have simple or trifoliate leaves arranged in opposite pairs, or sometimes whorled. The flowers are arranged in panicles and are bisexual or sometimes with functionally male- or female-only flowers. The flowers have four sepals, four petals and four or eight stamens. There are four, sometimes five, carpels fused at the base with fused styles, the stigma similar to the tip of the style. The fruit is composed of up to four follicles fused at the base, each with one or two seeds.Taxonomy
The genus Melicope was first formally described in 1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in their book Characteres Generum Plantarum and the first species they described was Melicope ternata.The generic name Melicope is derived from Greek words μελι, meaning "honey," and κοπη, meaning "a division," referring to the glands at the base of the ovary. The 2009 Takhtajan system placed the genus in the subfamily Rutoideae, tribe Zanthoxyleae. A 2021 subfamily classification of the Rutaceae, based both on a new and previous molecular phylogenetic studies, places Melicope in the subfamily Zanthoxyloideae, stating that the evidence does not yet support classification to tribal level.
Evidence from 2007 onwards showed that with its traditional circumscription, Melicope was not monophyletic. The previously separated genus Platydesma of four species is nested within the genus Melicope and is sister to all Hawaiian Melicope species. And while Melicope species are usually dioecious, the flowers of the former Platydesma are hermaphroditic, suggesting a rare evolutionary reversion away from dioecy in Platydesma. Molecular phylogenetic analyses also suggest that the genera Comptonella, Dutaillyea, Picrella, and possibly Dutailliopsis, all from New Caledonia, might also be nested in Melicope, although they are accepted in the 2021 classification, as is the temperate Asian genus Tetradium, which has sometimes been merged into Melicope.
Ecology
Melicopes are foodplants for various animals, mainly invertebrates. Caterpillars of the Ulysses butterfly are fond of M. elleryana. Caterpillars of Thyrocopa moths have been found on M. clusiifolia. The larvae of some belid weevils from the genus Proterhinus also feed on Melicope although they prefer unhealthy, dying or dead specimens. The plants of some species may not be safe for humans. The nectar of wharangi is known to yield toxic honey that may kill whoever eats it.Conservation
Several of the Hawaiian species are listed as "endangered" by the Government of the United States of America, due to habitat loss and competition from invasive non-native plants. A few species are already extinct.Species list
The following is a list of species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of July 2020:Melicope aberrans T.G.Hartley – New Guinea Melicope accedens T.G.Hartley – tropical AsiaMelicope acuminata T.G.HartleyMelicope adscendens T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone - HawaiiMelicope aequata T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope affinis T.G.Hartley – Queensland Melicope alba Lauterb. – N.G.Melicope albiflora T.G.Hartley – SamoaMelicope alpestris T.G.Hartley – PhilippinesMelicope aneura T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope anisata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone mokihana – Hawaii Melicope anomala T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope bakeri T.G.Hartley – MadagascarMelicope balankazo T.G.HartleyMelicope balansae Guillaumin – New Caledonia Melicope balgooyi Appelhans, W.L.Wagner & K.R.Wood – TubuaiMelicope balloui T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone rock pelea – HawaiiMelicope barbigera A.Gray – HawaiiMelicope belahe T.G.HartleyMelicope benguetensis T.G.HartleyMelicope blancoi T.G.Hartley – PhilippinesMelicope bonwickii T.G.Hartley – Java, Borneo, the Philippines, N.G., Qld.Melicope borbonica T.G.Hartley bois de catafaille blanc – RéunionMelicope boweriana T.G.Hartley – SamoaMelicope bracteata S.L.Welsh – Cook Islands, Tubuai, Society IslandsMelicope brassii T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope broadbentiana F.M.Bailey – Qld.Melicope buennemeijeri T.G.Hartley – SumatraMelicope burmahia T.G.Hartley – MyanmarMelicope burttiana B.C.Stone – Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz IslandMelicope buwaldae T.G.Hartley – SumatraMelicope calycina T.G.Hartley – Lesser Sunda IslandsMelicope capillacea A.C.Sm. – FijiMelicope carrii T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope celebica T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope chapelieri T.G.Hartley – MauritiusMelicope christophersenii T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope chunii T.G.Hartley – HainanMelicope cinerea A.Gray – HawaiiMelicope clemensiae T.G.Hartley – BorneoMelicope clusiifolia T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope conjuga T.G.Hartley – N.G. to Bismarck ArchipelagoMelicope contermina C.Moore & F.Muell. – Lord Howe IslandMelicope coodeana T.G.Hartley – RéunionMelicope corneri T.G.Hartley – Peninsula MalaysiaMelicope cornuta Appelhans, K.R.Wood & W.L.Wagner – HawaiiMelicope crassifolia T.G.Hartley – VietnamMelicope crassiramis T.G.HartleyMelicope cravenii T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope crispula T.G.HartleyMelicope cruciata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone cross-bearing pelea – HawaiiMelicope cucullata A.C.Sm. – FijiMelicope degeneri T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope denhamii T.G.Hartley – N.G., Vanuatu, Santa Cruz IslandMelicope dicksoniana T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope discolor T.G.HartleyMelicope doormani-montis T.G.HartleyMelicope dubia T.G.HartleyMelicope durifolia T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope elleryana T.G.Hartley – N.G., Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Island, Qld.Melicope elliptica A.Gray – HawaiiMelicope eriophylla T.G.HartleyMelicope erromangensis T.G.Hartley – VanuatuMelicope euneura T.G.HartleyMelicope evanensis A.C.Sm. – FijiMelicope exuta T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope fatraina T.G.HartleyMelicope fatuhivensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – Marquesas IslandsMelicope feddei T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope fellii T.G.Hartley – Qld.Melicope flaviflora A.C.Sm. – FijiMelicope floribunda T.G.HartleyMelicope forbesii T.G.Hartley – Santa Cruz IslandMelicope frutescens Appelhans & J.WenMelicope fulva B.C.Stone – N.C.Melicope glabella T.G.Hartley – PhilippinesMelicope glaberrima Guillaumin – N.C.Melicope glabra T.G.Hartley – Malaysia, Andaman and Nicobar IslandsMelicope glomerata T.G.Hartley – Mainland Southeast AsiaMelicope goilalensis T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope grisea T.G.Hartley – Bonin Islands to Volcano IslandsMelicope haleakalae T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone Maui ruta tree – HawaiiMelicope haupuensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope hawaiensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope hayesii T.G.Hartley – Qld., New South Wales Melicope hiepkoi T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope hiiakae T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope hivaoaensis J.Florence – MarquesasMelicope homeophylla A.C.Sm. – FijiMelicope hookeri T.G.HartleyMelicope hosakae W.L.Wagner & R.K.Shannon – HawaiiMelicope idiocarpa T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope improvisa T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope incana T.G.Hartley – Sumatra, Borneo, SulawesiMelicope indica WightMelicope inopinata J.Florence – MarquesasMelicope irifica T.G.Hartley – RéunionMelicope jonesii T.G.Hartley – Qld.Melicope jugosa T.G.Hartley – BorneoMelicope kaalaensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope kainantuensis T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope kavaiensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope kjellbergii T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope knudsenii T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone Knudsen's melicope – HawaiiMelicope kostermansii T.G.Hartley – Maluku Islands to N.G.Melicope laevis T.G.Hartley – VanuatuMelicope lamii Lauterb. – N.G.Melicope lasioneura Baill. ex GuillauminMelicope latifolia T.G.Hartley – Malaysia, Lesser Sunda Island, Myanmar, Samoa, Santa Cruz IslandMelicope lauterbachii T.G.HartleyMelicope laxa T.G.HartleyMelicope leptococca Guillaumin – N.C.Melicope littoralis T.G.Hartley ex P.S.Green – Norfolk IslandMelicope lobocarpa T.G.HartleyMelicope longior T.G.Hartley – Bismarck ArchipelagoMelicope lucida A.C.Sm. – Pacific IslandsMelicope lunu-ankenda T.G.Hartley – Tibet, tropical AsiaMelicope lydgatei T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone - HawaiiMelicope macgregorii T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope macrocarpa T.G.Hartley – MalaysiaMelicope macrophylla Merr. & L.M.Perry – N.G.Melicope macropus T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope madagascariensis T.G.Hartley – MadagascarMelicope magnifolia T.G.HartleyMelicope makahae T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope maliliensis T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope margaretae T.G.Hartley – TuamotusMelicope maxii T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope megastigma T.G.Hartley – Maluku IslandsMelicope micrococca T.G.Hartley white euodia – Qld., N.S.W.Melicope mindorensis T.G.Hartley – PhilippinesMelicope molokaiensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope moluccana T.G.Hartley – Maluku IslandsMelicope montana Baker f. – N.C.Melicope monticola T.G.HartleyMelicope mucronata Merr. & L.M.Perry – N.G.Melicope mucronulata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope munroi T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope nealae T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope neglecta T.G.Hartley – Java to Lesser Sunda IslandsMelicope nishimurae T.Yamaz. – Bonin IslandsMelicope novoguineensis Valeton – N.G.Melicope nubicola T.G.Hartley – Solomon IslandsMelicope nukuhivensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – MarquesasMelicope oahuensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope oblanceolata T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope obovata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone obovate melicope – HawaiiMelicope obscura T.G.Hartley – RéunionMelicope obtusifolia T.G.Hartley gros catafaille – MauritiusMelicope oppenheimeri K.R.Wood, Appelhans & W.L.WagnerMelicope orbicularis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone orbicular pelea – HawaiiMelicope ovalis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone wild pelea – HawaiiMelicope ovata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope pachyphylla T.G.Hartley – MalaysiaMelicope pachypoda T.G.HartleyMelicope pahangensis T.G.Hartley – LaosMelicope palawensis T.G.Hartley – PhilippinesMelicope pallida T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope paniculata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone Lihue ruta tree – HawaiiMelicope papuana Lauterb. – N.G.Melicope patulinervia C.C.Huang – HainanMelicope pauciflora T.G.Hartley – SulawesiMelicope pedicellata T.G.Hartley – N.C.Melicope peduncularis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope pendula T.G.Hartley – Solomon IslandsMelicope peninsularis T.G.Hartley – Qld.Melicope pergamentacea T.G.HartleyMelicope perlmanii J.Florence – MarquesasMelicope perryae T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope petiolaris T.G.Hartley – N.G.Melicope phanerophlebia T.G.HartleyMelicope polydenia Merr. & L.M.Perry – N.G.Melicope polybotrya T.G.Hartley ex P.S.Green Lord Howe IslandMelicope ponapensis Lauterb. – Caroline IslandsMelicope pseudoanisata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope pteleifolia T.G.Hartley – southern China to Indochina, TaiwanMelicope puberula T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope pubifolia Merr. & L.M.Perry – N.G.Melicope pulgarensis T.G.HartleyMelicope quadrangularis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone four-angled pelea – HawaiiMelicope quadrilocularis T.G.Hartley – Bonin IslandsMelicope radiata T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope ramuliflora T.G.Hartley – SumatraMelicope reflexa T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone – HawaiiMelicope remyi Appelhans, K.R.Wood & W.L.Wagner – HawaiiMelicope reticulata Lauterb. – N.G.Melicope retusa T.G.Hartley – southwest PacificMelicope revoluta J.Florence – MarquesasMelicope rhytidocarpa T.G.Hartley- ''Melicope richii''