Trigonopleura malayana (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Trigonopleura malayana Hook.f.
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: pohon gambir (general), gambir utan, kayu gambir (Javanese)
- Malaysia: kelat paya, sebasah.
Distribution
Malaysia and Indonesia: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo; possibly also Sulawesi and the Philippines. Sometimes cultivated in Indonesia, e.g. in Kalimantan, Bangka and Billiton.
Uses
The leaves are used as a substitute for gambier ( Uncaria gambir (Hunter) Roxb.). From the leaves an extract which is very similar to "true" gambier can be prepared; this extract can be used for the same purposes as gambier, and is sometimes mixed with the latter product.
Observations
A medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall with alternate distichous and oblong leaves, 5-merous flowers and ellipsoid, slightly hexagonal fruits. T. malayana occurs naturally in primary forests in lowlands in Peninsular Malaysia up to 400 m altitude.
Selected sources
3, 4, 5, 12, 22, 23, 31, 42, 53.