macrodrupe

Macrodrupe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, commonly treated as a small or monotypic lineage within the cashew family. The genus has been variously circumscribed by different taxonomic treatments, with many sources recognizing a single widely accepted species, while others have included additional species or treated Macrodrupe as closely related to neighboring genera within Anacardiaceae.

The defining feature of Macrodrupe is its large drupe-like fruit. Trees in this genus are typically tropical and can reach considerable size, and they produce the conspicuous woody fruits that give the name macrodrupe, meaning “large drupe.” The fruitGenerally consists of a thick, hard outer pericarp enclosing a single seed, which is adapted for dispersal by animals that consume the fruit.

Geographic range and habitat are tropical, with historical records pointing to regions in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. Macrodrupe species are usually found in forested environments, from lowland to foothill zones, where they contribute to the structure of their native ecosystems. Reproduction is tied to the availability of animal dispersers, and the trees may play a role in local timber and non-timber forest products, depending on regional uses and cultural practices.

Taxonomic and conservation notes: Because classifications within Anacardiaceae have shifted over time, the exact circumscription of Macrodrupe can vary among sources. In many checklists, the genus is treated conservatively, with emphasis on its large fruit morphology. Conservation status is regionally variable and often linked to broader forest habitat loss and degradation in tropical regions.