Smilax calophylla (PROSEA)
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Introduction |
Smilax calophylla Wallich ex A.DC.
- Protologue: Monogr. phan. 1: 60 (1878).
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: dawai-dawai, sedawai, akar kancil (Peninsular).
Distribution
Peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, New Guinea and north-eastern Australia.
Uses
Rhizomes are used in Malaysia to treat gonorrhoea and as an aphrodisiac and tonic. A decoction is administered after childbirth. Leaves are smeared with coconut oil, heated and applied to swellings.
Observations
- An erect to straggling slender shrub up to 2.5 m tall with smooth stems and branches.
- Leaves elliptical to lanceolate-elliptical or narrowly ovate, up to 20 cm long, petiole up to 2 cm long, wings of petiolar sheaths not well developed, tendrils absent.
- Inflorescence with 2-7 umbels.
- Fruit 7-9 mm in diameter, reddish-brown at maturity.
S. calophylla occurs in evergreen forest up to 1600 m altitude.
Selected sources
- [202] 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.
- [779] Koyama, T., 1960. Materials toward a monograph of the genus Smilax. Quarterly Journal of the Taiwan Museum 13: 1-62.
- [780] Koyama, T., 1975. Smilacaceae. In: Smitinand, T. & Larsen, K. (Editors): Flora of Thailand. Vol. 2. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand. pp. 211-250.
- [1227] Ridley, H.N., 1922-1925. The flora of the Malay Peninsula. 5 volumes. Government of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. L. Reeve & Co, London, United Kingdom.
Main genus page
- Smilax (Medicinal plants)
Authors
- Stephen P. Teo