Acrotrema costatum (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Acrotrema costatum Jack
- Protologue: Mal. Misc. 1(5): 36 (1820).
- Family: Dilleniaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: meroyan punai tanah (Pahang, Peninsular)
- Thailand: pot khon, wan chai maha prap, san tao (peninsular).
Origin and geographic distribution
Southern Burma (Myanmar), peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and northern Sumatra; possibly also in Bangka.
Uses
A. costatum has been mentioned in Peninsular Malaysia as one of the many plant resources used as protective medicine after childbirth.
Properties
The presence of the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin has been recorded for A. costatum . 0.12% (dry weight) of betulinic acid (a triterpene) has been found in A. uniflorum Hook. from Sri Lanka. Several flavonoids have been isolated from the latter, of which kaempferol and quercetin occur in the largest amounts.
Botany
A small perennial herb with a horizontal woody rhizome. Leaves in a rosette or on a very short stem and then arranged spirally, simple, obovate, 7-25 cm × 3-10 cm, dentate, auriculate at base, hairy, deep green, usually with a whitish or greyish area along the midrib or marked with red; petiole 1-2(-6) cm long. Inflorescence a terminal erect raceme, red-hairy, bracteate, up to 12-flowered. Flowers regular, 5-merous, bisexual, opening singly, c. 3 cm in diameter; petals yellow; stamens numerous, in 3 bundles; carpels 3. Fruit a follicle enclosed by the persistent sepals, irregularly dehiscent, with up to 15 seeds. Seeds finely echinate, with a white aril.
Acrotrema comprises 9 species, 7 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka and 1 to southern India.
Ecology
A. costatum occurs in dense rain forest, also in secondary forest, often on moist shady rocks, up to 1000 m altitude. It is common in many localities.
Management A. costatum can be cultivated successfully under partial shade, but hard soils and strong sunlight are not suitable. Leaf litter provides nutrients and conserves moisture around plants, and is therefore recommended.
Genetic resources
A. costatum has a rather limited area of distribution and is largely confined to dense lowland rain forest, a habitat which is under increasing pressure. Therefore, it is likely to be liable to genetic erosion, although it is still locally common. The presence of genetic diversity is reflected in a fair morphological variation, but this has not yet been investigated.
Prospects
Very little is known about A. costatum . There is little prospect of any increase in its importance as a herbal medicine, which is now minor. However, the presence of flavonoids, of which some have proven anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic activities (e.g. apigenin, luteolin and quercetin) in A. costatum and related species might be a starting point for research. It may have ornamental value because of its decorative foliage and flowers.
Literature
121, 247.
Other selected sources
249, 331, 731.
Main genus page
Authors
H.C. Ong