Maakia Rupr. & Maxim. (1856), in the family Leguminosae subfamily Papilionoideae, contains around 6 species in eastern Asia. Description Trees to 20m, but usually shrubs in cultivation, often with peeling bark. The leaves are alternate, deciduous, pinnate, with 5–17 opposite leaflets and a terminal leaflet, the leaf stalk not covering the bud. The flowers are small, pea-like, in upright spikes, whitish. Sepals 5, unequal, joined at the base to form a tubular calyx; petals 5, unequal, the uppermost a standard, the 2 outer wings, the
2 lowest forming a keel that encloses the stamens, style, and ovary. Stamens 10, their filaments joined only at the base. Ovary superior, with 1 carpel containing 1–5 ovules; style 1. Pollination is presumed to be by bees. The pods are flattened, rather narrow, with few seeds. Key Recognition Features The numerous opposite leaflets and the groups of upright spikes of small flowers. Evolution and Relationships Related to Castanospermum A. Cunn. ex Mudie, the Moreton Bay chestnut, which is sometimes planted as a street tree in Australia. Ecology and Geography In open woods and scrub. Maakia amurensis Rupr. is found from eastern Siberia to Taiwan, the other species in China. Comment The genus is named after Richard Maak, (1825–86), a Russian naturalist. The widespread M. amurensis from northeastern Asia is sometimes grown in collections; var. buergeri (Max.) Schneid. has leaves that are very silky when young, and longer flower spikes. |
