Pentaphragma begoniifolium (Roxb. ex Jack) Wallich ex G. Don
Family
Pentaphragmataceae
Synonyms
Phyteuma begoniifolium Roxb. ex Jack
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Pokok salang-suang (Peninsular). |
| Thailand | Phak paa, huu mee (Peninsular). |
Geographical Distributions
P. begoniifolium is restricted to southern Burma (Myanmar), peninsular Thailand and the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.
Description
P. begoniifolium is a perennial, succulent herb that can reach up to 25 cm tall.
Leaves are arranged alternate, simple, conspicuously asymmetrical, obliquely ovate to obliquely lance-shaped or obliquely reniform, 10-30 cm x 6-13.5 cm, base is rounded to cordate on one side, strongly excised-concave on other side, apex is shortly acuminate, finely but sharply serrate and fleshy. The petiole is 2-4 cm long while stipules are absent.
Inflorescence is terminal or axillary, usually solitary, 4-5 cm long, at first dense and scorpioid, ultimately lax and almost straight. Flowers are bisexual, 5-merous and subtended by orbicular-obovate 5-9 mm long bracts. The sepal tube is 4-5 mm x 3 mm, sparsely pilose, unequal lobes which are ovate to orbicular, 2-2.5 mm long. Petal is 3 mm long with short tube, spatulate-obovate lobes and slightly fleshy. The stamens are alternate with petal lobes. Ovary is inferior with 2-celled, short style and massive stigma.
Fruit is an ellipsoid, 8-9 mm x 3-4 mm indehiscent berry and many-seeded.
Seeds are ovoid and minute.
Ecology / Cultivation
P. begoniifolium occurs in lowland rain forest, often on rocks along streams, from sea-level up to 600 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
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References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3.
