Dichroa febrifuga Lour.
Family
Saxifragaceae
Synonyms
Adamia chinensis Gardner & Champ., Dichroa cyanea (Wallich) Schltr., Dichroa sylvatica (Reinw. ex Blume) Merr., Dichroa versicolor (Fortune) D.R. Hunt.
Vernacular Names
|
Indonesia |
Gigil (Javanese, Sundanese), tataruman (Sundanese), ramram (Ayawasi, Papua). |
|
Cambodia |
Phuck mono. |
|
Thailand |
Yaai khlang yai (Peninsular), hom kham, hom dong (Northern). |
|
Vietnam |
Th[ uw][ owf]ng s[ ow]n. |
Geographical Distributions
Dichroa febrifuga is found from northern India and the Himalayas to Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indo-China and China, southward to mountainous areas of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Description
Dichroa febrifuga is an erect, evergreen shrub, 1-3 m tall, with terete twigs and variably pubescent.
The leaves are arranged opposite, simple, ovate, elliptical to oblong, measure 7.5-30 cm x 2.5-12.5 cm, wedge-shaped at base, short-to long-acuminate at apex, with serrate-dentate margin and variably pubescent. The petiole is 1.5-6 cm long while the stipules are absent.
The inflorescence is a terminal, erect panicle, 4-15(-20) cm long and up to 25 cm in diametre, many-flowered while the axes are minutely pubescent. The flowers are bisexual, actinomorphic while the pedicel is 3-8 mm long. The sepal tube is bell-shaped, 2-4 mm long and with 5-6 teeth while there are 5-6(-7) petals which are valvate, 5-10 mm long, oblong, acute or obtuse and from light to dark blue. The stamens are diplo-(poly-) stemone. The ovary is semi-inferior, 1-locular, many-ovuled and with 3-5 styles.
The fruit is a berry, which is nearly spherical, about 5 mm in diametre, with persistent sepal and styles.
Ecology / Cultivation
Dichroa febrifuga is found in forest undergrowths and forest borders, in montane forests or preferably in moist localities, e.g along rivers and streams at (200-)700-2000 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
