Embelia laeta (PROSEA)

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Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

List of species

Embelia laeta (L.) Mez.

Protologue: Engler, Pflanzenr., Heft 9 (IV 236): 326 (1902).

Synonyms

Choripetalum benthamii Hance (1853),
Embelia obovata Hemsl. (1889).

Vernacular names

Vietnam: thùn mũn, cây mũn, dây ngó, chua ngút, chua méo.

Distribution

Vietnam, southern China and Taiwan.

Uses

The fruits are used as a vermifuge (taeniafuge) in Vietnam. The sap of the leaves is reported to be taken orally against snake bites, whereas the leaves are applied as a poultice on the bite. In China, roots and leaves are used to treat dysentery, indigestion and eczema, and the fruits are used to treat anaemia, gum bleeding and anorexia.

Observations

A small shrub 1-2 m tall.
Leaves obovate to oblong, 3.5-9 cm × 1.5-3 cm, chartaceous, base acute, apex obtuse, glabrous, petiole 3-10 mm long.
Inflorescence a lateral or axillary raceme, 6-10 mm long, few-flowered, with numerous bracts at the base.
Flowers 4-merous, yellowish-green.

E. laeta generally occurs at higher elevations in mountainous regions. In Indo-China it flowers in December and mature fruits are present in April. It may well be grown at higher elevations in the Malesian region.

Selected sources

Doan Thi Nhu, Do Huy Bich, Pham Kim Man, Nguyen Thuong Thuc, Bui Xuan Chuong & Pham Duy Mai (Editors), 1993. Les plants médicinales au Vietnam. Livre 2. Médicine traditionnelle et pharmacopée [The medicinal plants of Vietnam. Volume 2. Traditional medicine and pharmacopoeia]. Agence de coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 189 pp.
Li, H. L., 1978. Myrsinaceae. In: Li, H. L., Liu, T. S., Huang, T. C., Koyama, T. & DeVol, C.E. (Editors): Flora of Taiwan. Vol. 4. Epoch Publishing Co., Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. pp. 47-67.
Mez, C., 1902. Myrsinaceae. In: Engler, A. (Editor): Das Pflanzenreich. Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, Germany. Vol. 4, (fam.) 236 (Heft 9). 437 pp.
Pételot, A., 1952-1954. Les plantes médicinales du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam [The medicinal plants of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam]. 4 volumes. Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques et Techniques, Saigon, Vietnam.
Pitard, J., 1930. Myrsinacées [Myrsinaceae]. In: Gagnepain, F. (Editor): Flore générale de L'Indo Chine [General flora of Indo China]. Vol. 3(6). Masson & Cie, Paris, France. pp. 765-877.

Main genus page

Embelia (Medicinal plants)

Authors

L.S.L. Chua & J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg