Family: HANGUANACEAE
Genus: Hanguana
Species: malayana
Species Author: (Jack) Merr.
Vernacular: Euais
Hanguana malayana is a perennial rhizomatous herb that grows up to 1-2 m in height. Two subspecies of Hanguana malayana are recognized: subspecies kassintu grows up to 1m tall and subspecies anthelmintica grows up to 2m tall. The linear leaves are clustered at the base of the stem and have long prominent longitudinal veins, with less prominent secondary veins that run perpendicular to the midvein. Young leaves have long, branched hairs on their surfaces that rub off in older leaves. Flowers are produced in a n extensively branched inflorescence. As is typical for monocotyledon flowers, Hanguana malayana has 3-parted flowers, with 6 undifferentiated tepals. This species is dioecious, meaning that the pollen and ovules are produced in separate flowers borne on separate plants. Both pistillate (ovule producing) and staminate (pollen producing) flowers have structures called nectaries in which nectar is produced. In the pistillate flowers the nectaries are present in sterile stamens and in staminate flowers the nectaries are present in the sterile ovary. The fruit is a one seeded berry.
(Dahlgren, R.M.T., H.T. Clifford, and P.F. Yeo, 1985. The Families of the Monocotyledons: Structures, Evolution, and Taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.)
(Paula J. Rudall, Dennis W. Stevenson and H. Peter Linder. 1999. Structure and systematics of Hanguana, a monocotyledon of uncertain affinity. Australian Systematic Botany 12(2): 311–330.)
Hanguana malayana is native to the Philippines and surrounding areas including Peninsular Malaysia and Palau. This species is found in open, muddy areas within rainforest and along the margins of lakes. Hanguana malayana subspecies kassintu is a terrestrial plant and subspecies anthelmintica is aquatic. Hanguana contains six species with a distribution from Sri Lanka south through Thailand to Australia.
(Dahlgren, R.M.T., H.T. Clifford, and P.F. Yeo, 1985. The Families of the Monocotyledons: Structures, Evolution, and Taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.)
(Paula J. Rudall, Dennis W. Stevenson and H. Peter Linder. 1999. Structure and systematics of Hanguana, a monocotyledon of uncertain affinity. Australian Systematic Botany 12(2): 311–330.)
The classification and evolutionary relationships of the genus Hanguana has proven difficult to determine. The genus shares many morphological features with a range of other monocotyledon taxa including the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae), the ginger order (Zingiberales), and the Asparagus order (Asparagales). Using both morphological and molecular (DNA sequence) data, Hanguana is now considered to be closely related to members of the ginger order (Zingiberales). This order contains the Banana family (Musaceae), the Bird-of-Paradise family (Strelitziaceae), and the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Hanguana shares many features with these families including pollen with minute spines, pollen grains that lack an opening, and mucilage secreting hairs in the ovaries.
(Paula J. Rudall, Dennis W. Stevenson and H. Peter Linder. 1999. Structure and systematics of Hanguana, a monocotyledon of uncertain affinity. Australian Systematic Botany 12(2): 311–330.)
Research indicates that the xylem vessel elements present for the transport of water in Hanguana have quite primitive features. Xylem elements typically have perforation plates between the elements, and those of Hanguana, have porous or remnant membranes, which are typical in basal monocotyledons and is therefore thought to be a primitive feature. Alternatively, these vessel elements may reflect the habitat of Hanguana in moist rain forest in which vessel elements such as these, in which water moves slowly, is not disadvantageous.
(Schneider, E.L. and S. Carlquist. 2005. Origin and nature of vessels in monocotyledons. 6. Hanguana (Hanguanaceae). Pacific Science 59(3): 393-398.)
We currently have 6 herbarium specimens for Hanguana malayana in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
- 025490 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1998
- 025491 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1998
- 064565 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2009
- 064566 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2009
- 064567 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2009
- 064568 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2009
