Ophiorrhiza communis (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Ophiorrhiza communis Ridley
- Protologue: Journ. Roy. As. Soc. Straits Br. 61: 16 (1912).
- Family: Rubiaceae
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: pokok peparu, penberak nasi
- Thailand: pen-berak naa-si (Malay, peninsular).
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia and peninsular Thailand.
Uses
In Peninsular Malaysia, the soft and easily pulped plant is used for poulticing enlarged spleens or the chest for treating cough.
Observations
- An almost unbranched, herb, pubescent or hairy, up to 30 cm tall.
- Leaves ovate or lanceolate, 8-15 cm × 2.5-3.5 cm, base equal, apex acuminate, glabrescent above, veins and sometimes the whole surface beneath pubescent, petiole 2.5 cm long, stipules setaceous.
- Branches of cyme slender, up to 2.5 cm long, glabrous or puberulous, peduncle 2.5 cm long.
- Flowers white, rarely pink, pedicel as large as calyx, calyx ovoid, lobes short, blunt, corolla tubular, lobes short.
- Capsule transverse oblong, upper margin straight, slightly puberulous.
O. communis is common in secondary forest, from sea-level up to 2000 m altitude, except in the southernmost area of Peninsular Malaysia, where O. singaporensis replaces it.
Selected sources
- [135] Burkill, I.H., 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. Revised reprint. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol. 1 (A—H) pp. 1—1240, Vol. 2 (I—Z) pp. 1241—2444.
- [786] Perry, L.M., 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Attributed properties and uses. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States & London, United Kingdom. 620 pp.
Main genus page
Authors
- G.H. Schmelzer & N. Bunyapraphatsara