A genus of some 6 species of monoecious ever green trees with milky latex. Leaves alternate, entire, sometimes lobed (3-7), variable, and long petioles. Flowers small, white, with 5 petals and 2-5 sepals and displayed in terminal clusters. The fruit is a fleshy drupe which contains oil producing seeds. It is native to China, India, Southeast Asia, Papuasian, and Queensland, Australia. It is also reportedly naturalized on various islands (Pacific and Indian Oceans, plus the Caribbean) as well as scattered locations in Africa, South America and Florida.
The name Aleurites is derived from the Greek, aleurites, for bread made from wheat flour or ground meal; the pale coloration of the trees suggests that they are dusted with flour.
Pronunciation:
al-yoor-RY-teez
Family:
Euphorbiaceae