Degeneria roseiflora

plant

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June 25, 2026

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endemism Flower and stems of *Degeneria roseiflora*, a tree endemic to certain islands of Fiji.

Degeneria roseiflora is a species of large tree belonging to the family Degeneriaceae. This plant is characterized by primitive vessels, single pollen grains with an elongated aperture, and sterile stamens surrounding the fertile ones.1

The fruits of Degeneria are kidney-shaped, measuring up to 12 cm long. They split open to reveal orange or red seeds embedded in pulp, which are dispersed by birds. A unique feature of this plant is that its embryos possess three or four cotyledons.1

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Magnoliales
Distribution and abundance
A second species, D. roseiflora, was described in 1988 on different Fijian islands—namely, Vanua Levu and Taveuni. It is also a fairly common timber tree that differs from the first species in having magenta or pink flowers, smaller fruits, and bark of a different colour.
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A second species, D. roseiflora, was described in 1988 on different Fijian islands—namely, Vanua Levu and Taveuni. It is also a fairly common timber tree that differs from the first species in having magenta or pink flowers, smaller fruits, and bark of a different colour.
Read More