Pisonia umbellifera (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Pisonia umbellifera (J.R. Forster & J.G. Forster) Seem.
- Protologue: Bonplandia 10: 154 (1862).
- Family: Nyctaginaceae
Synonyms
- Ceodes umbellifera J.R. Forster & J.G. Forster (1776),
- Pisonia excelsa Blume (1826),
- Pisonia brunoniana Endl. (1833).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: angkola (Sumatra), gendala (Javanese), hares (Moluccas)
- Papua New Guinea: paribui (Kebar), fafoni-mo (Onjob, Oro Province), namba namba (Aseki, Morobe Province)
- Philippines: anilin, balagasaha (Tagalog), anuring (Panay Bisaya)
- Vietnam: bì sơn tán.
Distribution
From South Africa and the islands in the Indian Ocean, to the islands in the southern Chinese sea, throughout South-East Asia, especially in the eastern part, to northern Australia, and further throughout Melanesia, and Palau, Yap and Truk.
Uses
In highland areas of Papua New Guinea, salt from the ashes of the leaves and bark is added to many herbal medicines. In India, the leaves are used, like those of P. aculeata, for rheumatic pains. They are also taken in decoction against poisoning by certain marine fishes. The leaves are also used as a green manure.
Observations
- A tree, up to 28 m tall.
- Leaves opposite or in pseudo-whorls towards the end of twigs, elliptical, oblong to ovate, 9-25 cm × 4-12 cm, base and apex acute to rounded, petiole 0.5-4 cm long.
- Thyrse terminal, many-flowered, 3-9 cm in diameter, puberulous or glabrous, peduncle 3.5-4 cm long.
- Flowers uni- or bisexual, pedicel 1.5-6 mm long, bracteoles 1-3, perianth campanulate, 2.5-7 mm long, lobes 5, truncate, stamens 6-9(-14), up to 4 mm exserted in male flowers, 1 mm in female flowers and 1.5 mm in bisexual flowers, stigma fimbriate.
- Anthocarp elongate, 2-4 cm × 0.3 cm, 5-ribbed, viscid.
P. umbellifera occurs in coastal areas, but also in everwet or monsoon forest, along river banks, creeks, on sandy clay, sandy and rocky soils, at low altitudes.
Selected sources
- [100] Beloy, F.B., Masilungan, V.A., de la Cruz, R,M. & Ramos, E.V., 1976. Investigation of some Philippine plants for antimicrobial substances. Philippine Journal of Science 105(4): 205—213.
- [207] Corner, E.J.H., 1988. Wayside trees of Malaya. 3rd Edition. 2 volumes. The Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 774 pp.
Main genus page
Authors
- G.H. Schmelzer & N. Bunyapraphatsara