Uvaria rufa (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Uvaria rufa Blume
- Protologue: Fl. Javae 21, t. 4, 13c (1830).
Synonyms
Uvaria ridleyi King (1893).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: kalak (Java), turalak (Sundanese), larap nyapa (Lampung)
- Malaysia: larak, pisang-pisang (Peninsular)
- Philippines: hilagak (Tagalog), allagat (Iloko), batag-kabalang (Bikol)
- Thailand: nom khwaai (general), nom maeo (central), bu ngaa yai (northern)
- Vietnam: bù dẻ hoa dỏ.
Distribution
The Andaman Islands, southern Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, southern China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines.
Uses
In the Philippines an alcoholic tincture of the roots is employed as an ecbolic. In Thailand a decoction of the root and wood is used to treat intermittent fever and after childbirth. The fruits, ground with water, are applied externally against itch. The fruits are slightly sweet and are eaten.
Observations
A straggling shrub or liana up to 10 m long; leaves elliptical-oblong or ovate-oblong, 4.5-16 cm × 2.5-6 cm; flowers with sepals connate at base only and corolla 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, at first bright red, afterwards dark red; fruit consisting of 4-20 monocarps 2-3 cm long, on stalks 1-4 cm long, bright red, fleshy, rather densely brown hairy, 10-20-seeded. U. rufa occurs in open forest, brushwood and hedges, at low and medium altitudes.
Selected sources
62, 121, 173, 334, 760.
Main genus page
Authors
Max Joseph Herman