Plants in the genus Murraya are shrubs or trees with
pinnate leaves arranged alternately, usually glandular, aromatic, and leathery to membranous in texture. The leaflets vary in shape and have smooth or toothed edges.[5] The
inflorescence is a
panicle, cyme, or small
raceme of flowers growing at the ends of branches or in the leaf axils;[3] some flowers are solitary.[5] The fragrant flowers have 4 or 5
sepals and white
petals and up to 10 straight
stamens.[3][5] The fruit is a fleshy
berry with pulp but without the
juice vesicles present in some related fruits.[3] It is up to 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) long and orange, red, or black.[5]
Studies have repeatedly shown that two sections into which Murraya has been divided, M. sect. Murraya and M. sect. Bergera, should be treated as separate genera. Murraya sensu stricto was revised in 2021, with eight species being accepted:[13]
Species that have been placed in Murraya sect. Bergera belong in Bergera, although as of September 2021[update], names for many have not been published. Further species still accepted in Murraya by
Plants of the World Online are:[14]
In
Myanmar, Murraya species are used to make
thanaka, a cosmetic paste that is typically applied onto the face.[18]
Chemistry
Compounds isolated from Murraya include many types of
coumarins and
alkaloids. The novel alkaloid
yuehchukene was found in M. paniculata, and it has since been isolated from other Murraya. It is found in red-fruited species with larger petals, but not in black-fruited species with smaller petals. Some species also contain the
carbazole girinimbine.[4]
Spelling competition
In July 2021, 14-year old Zaila Avant-garde of
Harvey, Louisiana, won the final of the 2021
Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word "Murraya", and was the first African American to win the 96-year-old event.[19]
References
^
ab"Murraya". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
^But, Paul Pui-Hay; Kong, Yun-Cheng, Ng Kam-Hung, Chang Hung-Ta, Li Qian, Yu Si-Xao, Waterman Peter G.; Ng, Kam-Hung; Chang, Hung-Ta; Li, Qian; Yu, Si-Xao & Waterman, Peter G. (1986).
"A Chemotaxonomic Study of Murraya (Rutaceae) in China". Journal of Systematics and Evolution (in Chinese and English). 24 (3): 186–192. Retrieved 2021-09-21.{{
citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abcdMou, Feng-Juan & Zhang, Dian-Xiang (2009). "Pollen morphology supports the reinstatement of Bergera (Rutaceae)". Nordic Journal of Botany. 27 (4): 298–304.
doi:
10.1111/j.1756-1051.2009.00369.x.
^
abMou, Fengjuan; Tu, Tieyao; Chen, Yi-Zhang; Zhang, Dianxiang & Zhang, Dianxiang (2017). "Phylogenetic relationship of Clauseneae (Rutaceae) inferred from plastid and nuclear DNA data and taxonomic implication for some major taxa". Nordic Journal of Botany. 36 (3): 1–12.
doi:
10.1111/njb.01552.
^
abAppelhans, Marc S.; Bayly, Michael J.; Heslewood, Margaret M.; Groppo, Milton; Verboom, G. Anthony; Forster, Paul I.; Kallunki, Jacquelyn A. & Duretto, Marco F. (2021). "A new subfamily classification of the Citrus family (Rutaceae) based on six nuclear and plastid markers". Taxon. 70 (5): 1035–1061.
doi:
10.1002/tax.12543.
hdl:11343/288824.
S2CID237693195.
^
abMou, Feng-Juan; Peng, Yun; Li, Yi-Guo & Hu, Xiu (2021). "Taxonomic revision of Murraya J. Koenig (Rutaceae) based on the molecular phylogeny and morphological characters". Taiwania. 66 (3): 387–397.
doi:
10.6165/tai.2021.66.387.
^"Murraya". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
^
abZhang, Dianxiang & Hartley, Thomas G.
"Murraya". In Wu, Zhengyi; Raven, Peter H. & Hong, Deyuan (eds.).
Flora of China (online). eFloras.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.