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This article is about the species Meliosma vernicosa, that is considered part of the Sabiaceae family. It is a canopy tree of the cloud forest that reaches 20 to 25 meters tall. It is better equipped in elevations of 1500 to 1700 meters. This plant is found in Costa Rica.

Meliosma vernicosa

Meliosma vernicosa found in Costa Rica, is a tropical tree that belongs to the family Sabiaceae. M. vernicosa is a canopy tree part of the cloud forest that reaches 20 to 25 meters tall. It is better equipped in elevations of 1500 to 1700 meters. Meliosma vernicosa has been commonly confused with Meliosma depressiva, but it is distinguished by several characters.  The first one being, that Meliosma vernicosa has leaves with petioles less than 3.5 cm long, as opposed to M. depressiva, which has petioles usually more than 4.5 cm long. M. vernicosa has a very hard seed coat and very low levels of post-dispersal seed removal. Upon, germination, the seed coat splits apart leaving the developing seedling with no physical defense. The genus Miliosma (Sabiaceae) is a genus represented by about 15 species in the Asian tropics and 40 species in the Neotropics. All species are restricted to areas of humid forest, where they can be easily recognized by their simple alternating leaves, that have pulvinated petioles and for their fruits, with a gummy secretion that can be viewed when they are mature and cut. These species are persistent for a long time in the tree, even up to one year after ripening.  

Background information

Sabiaceae is a group of blooming plants. It involves three genera, Meliosma, Ophiocaryon, and Sabia, with 66 known species, local to tropical to warm mild districts of southern Asia and the Americas. The family has additionally been called Meliosmaceae End.

References

- Messian to Zanclean vegetation and climate of Northern and Central Italy by Adele Bertini & Edoardo Martinetto, Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 47 (2), 2008, 105-121. Modena, 11 lugio 2008.

- Christenhusz, M. J. M. & Byng, J. W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. Magnolia Press. 261 (3): 201–217. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.