Gymnosporia spinosa var. spinosa

Materials identified by : Ulysses Ferreras (Field Botanist)

Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 2-4 meters

Habitat : Dry thickets and open grasslands

 

Local name : Amumut

Botanical name : Gymnosporia spinosa var. spinosa

Family : Celastraceae

Traits : Deciduous; Drought tolerant; Grassfire tolerant; Large shrub to small tree; Much-branched; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Erosion control; Hedging; Living trellis; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Urban greening

Used for : Fuelwood and charcoal

Origin : Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), New Guinea and Australia

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use

(Note : Synonymous to Maytenus emarginata)

Further reading :

Reinstatement of Gymnosporia (Celastraceae):
implications for the Flora Malesiana region (Marie Jordaan and A.E. van Wyk) http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/72714/Tel10Jor155.pdf

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (356)