Pouzolzia pentandra (Roxb.) Benn.
Family
Urticaceae
Synonyms
Gonostegia pentandra (Roxb.) Miq., Memorialis pentandra (Roxb.) Wedd.
Vernacular Names
|
Thailand |
Khop cha naang, yaa non taai (Northern). |
|
Vietnam |
Thu[oos]c d[of]i ng[ux] h[uf[ng. |
Geographical Distributions
Pouzolzia pentandra is distributed from India to the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia.
Description
Pouzolzia pentandra is a perennial, monoecious herb that can grow up to 60 cm tall, and with creeping stems and erect branches.
The lower most leaves are arranged opposite while the upper leaves are arranged alternate. They are ovate lance-shaped, measure 2-10 cm x 0.5-1.5 cm, rounded to subcordate at base, acute at apex, entire, with 3 veins extending to the leaf apex, shortly fringed or hairless, sessile or subsessile and with ovate stipules.
The flowers are in bisexual clusters that are spicately arranged in the upper leaf axils and whitish tinged pink. The male flowers are shortly pedicellate and with (4-)5 tepals. The female flowers are subsessile to sessile, its tubular perianth is with 2 broad wings and 1 narrow wing, while the stigma is cauducous.
The 1-seeded fruit is ovoid or ellipsoid, black, shining and enclosed by a broadly winged perianth.
Ecology / Cultivation
Pouzolzia pentandra is found in humid forests and along watersides from sea level up to 600 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
