Polyalthia longifolia (PROSEA)

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Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction
List of species


Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites

Protologue: Enum. pl. zeyl. 5: 398 (1864).

Synonyms

  • Guatteria longifolia (Sonn.) Wallich,
  • Unona longifolia (Sonn.) Dun.

Vernacular names

  • Cemetery tree (En).

Distribution

Native to southern India and Sri Lanka; planted for ornamental purposes in South-East Asia, e.g. in Peninsular Malaysia and Java.

Uses

In India the bark is used as a febrifuge. The tough and flexible wood is used for making barrels. P. longifolia is cultivated as an ornamental, roadside and shade tree.

Observations

  • A small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall, with a straight bole and dense crown, twigs soon glabrous.
  • Leaves ovate-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, 11-22 cm × 2-4.5(-6) cm, cuneate to rounded at base, wavy at margins, membranous, petiole 4-8 mm long.
  • Flowers in axils of leaves or fallen leaves, usually numerous, petals narrowly lanceolate, up to 1.2 cm long, greenish-yellow.
  • Monocarps subglobose to ovoid, 2-2.5 cm long, stalk 8-12 mm long, 1-seeded.

Selected sources

62, 121, 623, 782, 860, 883, 1055. medicinals

Main genus page

Authors

  • R.H.M.J. Lemmens