[Note: some taxonomic treatments regard, Dysoxylum abo to be a synonym of Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. molle (Miq.) Mabb., in Meliaceae, the Mahogany family (e.g., http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2780070). Here we tentatively accept D. abo as an endemic species only reported from Chuuk where it was collected by the Japanese botanist Hosokawa in the mid-1930s.]

Common or English Name: There is no recorded common English name for Dysoxylum abo. However, if this species does belong within the widespread subspecies Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. Molle (see note above), then it is known commonly in English as the Red Bean or Miva Mahogany.

Micronesian Names by Islands or Island Groups: Abo (Chuuk)

Description: Dysoxylum abo is a large evergreen forest tree with alternate, pinnately compound leaves; in other words, the leaves are arranged alternately on either side of the stems, and each leaf has several pairs of opposing leaflets. We have very little specific botanical information for this species, but most members of the genus Dysoxylum are dioecious, in which case both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required. Closely related Dysoxylum mollissimum, also an evergreen tree, produces an irregular crown of branches with terminal rosettes of leaves; usually grows up to about 35 m (more than 100 ft) tall, though trees up to 60 m (more than 180 ft) have been recorded. The cylindrical-shaped trunk of D. mollissimum is up to 150 cm (60 in) in diameter with buttresses up to 2 m (6 ft) tall, and the branches on the trunk may be up to 25 m (~75 ft) above ground.

Distribution: The native sub-canopy or canopy tree of Dysoxylum on Chuuk, where it is known locally in Chuukese as Abo, is found on most of the main islands of Chuuk lagoon. The closely related (or same species) Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. molle is a rainforest tree that is found in tropical, sub-tropical and littoral rainforests in Southern China, East India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, eastern Australia, southwest Pacific Islands -- including Chuuk? Dispersal of Dysoxylum fruits is probably carried out by native forest birds such as the Pacific Pigeon (Ducula pacifica, a widespread species in the family Columbidae) and this may be the agency of dispersal that originally brought the native Dysoxylum to Chuuk (see Useful Tropical Plants Database @ http://tropical.theferns.info/).

General Uses: Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. Molle (which here is considered to be a synonym of Dysoxylum abo) is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood in its widespread range. Indeed, timber of the subspecies molle ofD. mollissimum is traded as an especially good quality cabinet wood); reportedly, D. mollissimum “was formerly one of the largest trees in Java, but was harvested to extinction in the west of the island.” In some areas, the fruits are used in the treatment of wounds.

Uses in Chuuk: Raynor (2006:98) briefly listed the major woody species in the remaining broadleaf forest areas in volcanic island within the almost atoll of Chuuk, which can be found chiefly as relatively inaccessible small stands located on rocky ridges and summit areas:

“Dominant species include Clinostigma caroliniensis, Ficus prolixa var. caroliniensis, Parinari laurina, Garcinia ponapensis var. trukensis, Cynometra yokotai, Dysoxylum abo, Pentaphalangium carolinense, Schefflera krameri, Flacourtia rukam var. micronesica, Randia carolinensis and other species” (underlining added for emphasis; also see Merlin and Juvik 1996).

In terms of recorded uses of the putative Chuuk endemic, Dysoxylum abo, the wood of Abo is burned in the earth oven (wuumw) in Chuuk; also note that parts of Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. molle tree (which, as noted above is either a synonym of D. abo, or the reverse) are reportedly used medicinally among some Pacific Islanders.