Ochna is a genus comprising 86 species of evergreen trees, shrubs and shrublets belonging to the flowering plant family Ochnaceae. These species are native to tropical woodlands of Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarenes and Asia. Species of this genus are usually called ochnas, bird's-eye bushes or Mickey-mouse plants, a name derived from the shape of the drupelet fruit. The name of this genus comes from the Greek word Ochne, used by Homer and meaning wild pear, as the leaves are similar in appearance. Some species, including Ochna integerrima (yellow Mai flower) and O. serrulata (bird's eye plant), are cultivated as decorative plants. Distribution Species of this genus are found in the Old World Tropics, especially in Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands and Asia. Selected species Ochna afzelii Ochna andamanica Ochna angustata Ochna arborea Ochna awrrulata Ochna barbosae – sand plane, sand ochna Ochna beddomei Ochna beirensis Ochna brevipes Ochna calodendron Ochna chilversii Ochna ciliata Ochna crocea Ochna fruticulosa Ochna gambleoides Ochna glauca - blue–leaved ochna Ochna grandis Ochna harmandii Ochna holstii – red ironwood, red ironwood ochna Ochna inermis – stunted plane, boat-fruited ochna Ochna indica Ochna integerrima – yellow Mai flower (for Tet in southern Vietnam) Ochna jabotapita Ochna lanceolata Ochna louvelii – besarandrana, menahy Ochna lucida Ochna macrantha Ochna mauritiana Ochna membranacea Ochna mossambicensis Ochna multiflora Ochna natalitia – Natal plane, showy ochna Ochna obtusata Ochna parviflora Ochna polycarpa Ochna pretoriensis – Magalies plane, Magalies ochna Ochna pruinosa Ochna pulchra – peeling plane, peeling ochna Ochna rufescens Ochna serrulata (syn. O. atropurpurea, O. multiflora) – carnival ochna, Mickey mouse bush Ochna schweinfurthiana Ochna thomasiana (syn. O. kirkii) Ochna wallichii Ochna wightiana References External links Malpighiales genera