Syn.: Neowormia ferruginea (Gilg) Hutch. et Summerh., Wormia ferruginea Baill.
Family: Dilleniaceae Salisb.
Distribution: Endemic to the Seychelles Archipelago, it is known only from the higher granitic islands of inner group (Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin and La Digue). The centre of diversity of the genus Dillenia is situated to the Southeastern Asia, only a few species reach to Seychelles and Madagascar.
Ecology: Evergreen middle elevation rainforests (300–600 m a. s. l.), often along streams, but sometimes also on rocky places. Climate is very hot and humid, stable all over the year. This species rather tolerates occurrence of invasive plants.
Description: Tree up to 20 m. Leaves alternate, up to 50 cm long, with thick main vein and parallel secondary venation without anastomosae; young leaves softly rusty hairy, perfoliate, later deep green. Inflorescence racemose, flowers pedicellate, 5-merous, about 5 cm in diameter; calyx persistent, free, rusty; corolla free, white; stamens numerous; gynoecium imperfectly fused from 5–20 carpels; ovary superior. Fruit fleshy, about 3 cm long, orange.
Note: Genus Dillenia was named after German physician and botanist J. J. Dillenius.
These images were taken in Seychelles, Mahé Is., NP Morne Seychellois (by Vít Grulich and Alena Vydrová, February 2 and 4, 2011).
