Homalanthus fastuosus (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Homalanthus fastuosus (Linden) Fern.-Vill.
- Protologue: Blanco, Fl. Filip., ed. 3, Nov. App.: 196 (1880).
Synonyms
Homalanthus alpinus Elmer (1908), Homalanthus bicolor Merr. (1909).
Vernacular names
- Philippines: botinag, buta, topi (general).
Distribution
Taiwan (Orchid Island) and the Philippines.
Uses
In the Philippines the leaves are used as a fish poison. The wood is used as fuel, but the smoke may irritate the eyes.
Observations
A small tree up to 8(-18) m tall, with bole up to 30 cm in diameter, crookedly branched; leaves orbicular to ovate, 4-23 cm × 3.5-24 cm, peltate or not, petiole 3-30 cm long, apically with a pair of glands; bracts of male flowers with a pair of glands longer than bracts, stamens 6-8; fruit obovoid, 6-9 mm long, often with lateral hooks. H. fastuosus occurs on slopes and ridges, in hill forest and montane forest, but also in old garden sites, at (50-)750-2600 m altitude, and is locally common.
Selected sources
117, 234.
Main genus page
Authors
P.C. van Welzen