Sphenodesme (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Sphenodesme Jack
- Protologue: Malayan Misc. 1(1): 19 (1820).
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Chromosome number: x= unknown
Origin and geographic distribution
Sphenodesme comprises about 15 species and occurs in tropical and subtropical Asia.
Uses
A few Sphenodesme species are used in traditional medicine in Malaysia, especially a root decoction to treat rheumatism.
Botany
Climbing shrubs or lianas; young stems lenticellate. Leaves opposite, simple and entire, shortly petiolate; stipules absent. Inflorescence a head-like cyme subtended by a whorl of (5-)6 prominent involucral bracts, 3-7-flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular or slightly zygomorphic, 5(-7)-merous; calyx funnelform, dentate, sometimes enlarged in fruit; corolla with short cylindrical tube and imbricate, narrowly lanceolate to ovate-oblong lobes; stamens inserted on corolla tube, alternate with corolla lobes, free; ovary superior, imperfectly 2-celled, style simple, stigma 2-cleft. Fruit drupe-like, obovoid to globose, small, indehiscent, with leathery endocarp, included in calyx, 1(-2)-seeded.
Sphenodesme has been placed in the subfamily Symphorematoideae , together with Symphorema and Congea , and it has been suggested recently that this group be raised to family level, i.e. Symphoremaceae , based on morphological as well as anatomical evidence.
Ecology
Sphenodesme occurs mainly in lowland forest up to 1000 m altitude, but sometimes up to 1500 m, often in the edges of forest, sometimes in scrub vegetation.
Genetic resources
Too little is known about the distribution of Sphenodesme in South-East Asia to judge the risk of genetic erosion for the different species.
Prospects
It is unlikely that the use of Sphenodesme as a medicinal plant will increase.
Literature
121, 640, 641.
Selection of species
Authors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens