Ophiorrhiza major Ridley
Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Name
None
Geographical Distributions
Ophiorrhiza major is a distributed throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
Description
O. major is a slender, woody, hairy herb and can grow up to measure about 30-90 cm tall.
The leaves are elliptical-lance-shaped or narrowly elliptical in shape, with a size of measuring 10-17.5 cm x 2.5-10 cm, unequal base, acuminate apex, prominent beneath veins, often mealy-pubescent, hairless above leaf and with a measure about 1.2-3 cm long petiole. The cymes are terminal and axillary, with a size of measure about 2.5-5 cm long peduncle and puberulous.
The flowers are white, pink lobes, or all dark pink in colour. The pedicel is as long as the sepal. The sepal is slightly spherical in shape, obscurely ribbed and with short teeth. The petal is cylindrical,with a size of measure about 6-7 mm long and with short lobes.
The capsule is narrowly ovoid in shape, with a size of measure about 1-2 mm long, as well as measuring 4-5 mm in diametre and smooth.
Ecology / Cultivation
O. major is quite common in secondary forest at low altitudes.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (2): Medicinal and poisonous plants.
