Octamyrtus behrmannii (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Octamyrtus behrmannii Diels
- Protologue: Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 57: 376 (1922).
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Vernacular names
- Papua New Guinea: kokorabegisi (Kurereda, Northern Province).
Origin and geographic distribution
O. behrmannii occurs throughout New Guinea.
Uses
Young shoots are mixed with water and the solution is drunk to treat tuberculosis.
Botany
A shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall; bark flaky, greyish-brown. Leaves opposite, simple and entire, obovate to broadly elliptical, 13.5-23 cm × 5.5-11 cm, obtuse to attenuate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, leathery, tomentose on veins below, pinnately veined; petiole 0.5-2 cm long; stipules absent. Flowers cauliflorous, in clusters or solitary, bisexual, with persistent bracteoles; pedicel 0.5-1.5 cm long; calyx with 4 unequal lobes 4-8 mm long, persistent; petals 6 or 8, free, unequal, ovate to elliptical, up to 3.5 cm long, silky outside, red; stamens numerous, free, up to 5.5 cm long; ovary inferior, 4(-7)-celled, style columnar, up to 6 cm long, stigma capitate. Fruit a globose, dry berry 10-12 mm in diameter, bluish-green, brownish tomentose, many-seeded. Seeds compressed-reniform, 2-2.5 mm in diameter.
Octamyrtus comprises 3 species and is confined to the Moluccas and New Guinea. It is closely related to Rhodomyrtus , which differs in the 4-5 less showy petals.
Ecology
O. behrmannii occurs in rain forest up to 1900 m altitude.
Genetic resources
The status of O. behrmannii concerning genetic erosion is unclear, but there are no indications that it is threatened.
Prospects
It is unlikely that the use of O. behrmannii in traditional medicine will increase in the near future.
Literature
347.
Other selected sources
826.
Main genus page
Authors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens