Masiratu

The masiratu is a large, tropical canopy tree belonging to an ancient family of flowering plants closely related to the magnolias. Indeed, the glossy, light green leaves are magnolia-like in appearance with a simple leaf shape and alternate ... More

Although the reproductive biology of the masiratu has been poorly studied, both its pollination and seed dispersal strategies appear to exploit animal relationships. Its flowers, which open at night, are visited by a beetle which feeds on pollen and the sticky fluid produced by the staminodes. In doing so, there is a strong probability that it transfers pollen from one flower to the stigma of another, thereby pollinating the plant (2) (3) (4). More

Masiratu (Degeneria vitiensis ) Mbessi (Trema sp. More