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Witch hazel (Maingaya malayana)
VULNERABLEWitch hazel fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
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Witch hazel description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Hamamelidales |
| Family | Hamamelidaceae |
| Genus | Maingaya (1) |
Witch hazel is the name commonly given to the medicinal plants belonging to the genus Hammelis (2), but is sometimes also used to refer to the less well known monotypic genus, Maingaya (3). The sole species in the genus is Maingaya malayana, a very rare evergreen tree with smooth bark, simple, alternate leaves, and dense, yellow flowers (3) (4) (5). In the wild it grows as a tall, sub-canopy tree, reaching up to 27 metres, but in cultivation it spreads horizontally and rarely exceeds three metres in height (4).
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Witch hazel biology
Aspects of the biology of Maingaya malayana are yet to be described.
TopWitch hazel range
Confined to peninsular Malaysia, Maingaya malayana is historically known from two localities at Penang Island and Perak (1) (4). While a small population is still thought to occur on Penang Island, the persistence of the population at Perak has not been confirmed since the 19th century (3).
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Species with a similar range
Witch hazel habitat
Maingaya malayana has been recorded in primary rainforest from 300 to 1,000 metres above sea level (4).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Witch hazel status
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Witch hazel threats
It is not apparent exactly what factors contributed to Maingaya malayana’s decline in the wild, but unsustainable logging and clearance of trees for agriculture are responsible for an enormous loss of forest cover in Malaysia (6).
TopWitch hazel conservation
Although the status of Maingaya malayana in the wild appears uncertain, this species persists in several botanical gardens around the world (3) (4) (5).
TopAuthentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTopGlossary
- Monotypic
- A taxonomic group comprising only one member, i.e. a family with one genus or a genus with one species.
- Primary rainforest
- Rainforest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.
References
- IUCN Red List (March, 2008)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/ - Lane, C. (2005) Royal Horticultural Society Plant Collector Guide: Witch Hazels. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
- Rimba Ilmu Botanic Gardens (January, 2009)
http://rimba.um.edu.my/index.html - Dransfield, J. (1993) Maingaya malayana: Hamamelidaceae. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 10(2): 81 - 84.
- Rimbun Dahan (January, 2009)
http://www.rimbundahan.org/environment/plant_lists/hamamelidaceae/index.htm - WWF-Malaysia (January, 2009)
http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests_main
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Image credit
Maingaya malayana flowers
© Fletcher & Baylis
Wildside Photography
kfletcher@wildsidephotography.ca
http://www.wildsidephotography.ca
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