Micromelum minutum (J.G. Forster) Wight & Arn.
Family
Rutaceae
Synonyms
Micromelum pubescens Blume, Micromelum ceylanicum Wight, Micromelum compressum (Blanco) Merr.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Chememar, cherek, kematu (Peninsular). |
| English | Lime berry. |
| Indonesia | Sesi (Lampung), ki mangkok (Sundanese), mentanen (Javanese). |
| Thailand | Samui (Chaang) (Peninsular), saam sok (Northern), sabaek (Eastern). |
| Philippines | Ppiris (Tagalog), makabangon (Bikol), basar basar (Iloko). |
| Vietnam | Cam n[us]i, kim s[uw][ow]ng. |
Geographical Distributions
Micromelum minutum is found from India throughout Southeast Asia to Australia and the Pacific.
Description
M. minutum is a small to medium-sized, and an unarmed tree grows up to 20 m tall. The stem diametre is measuring up to 15 cm. The twigs and buds are densely short-haired.
The leaves are alternate, pinnate with an unpaired terminal leaflet, measure up to 30 cm long including the leaf stalk where 9-15 leaflets are arranged alternately. The 3-12 cm x 1.5-6 cm leaflets are egg-shaped-lance-shaped. Its base is obtuse and asymmetrical while the apex is attenuate-acuminate., It is rarely obtuse or notched at the extremity. The, margin is entire to irregularly undulate-crenate and the leaflet stalk is measures 3-5 mm long.
The inflorescence is terminal, cymose-resembling a panicle, measures (3-)15-20 cm long. The 5-merous flowers are bisexual., .The sepal is cupular and shallowly 5 toothed. The floral petals are linear-oblong, measure 7 mm x 1.5mm, pale green to yellowish-white, and densely appressed hairy outside. The stamens are 10 while ovary is superior, cylindrical, 5-celled where the cells are bi-ovulate, and with a twisting of the radial follicle walls.
The fruit is an ellipsoid, oblong berry, measures 6-10 mm long, with 1-3 developed compartments and each is one-seeded. The seed is glabrate yellow to red when ripe, with flat and folded cotyledons. Seedling is with epigeal germination; emergent cotyledons are green; hypocotyl is elongated.
Ecology / Cultivation
M. minutum is found on a wide range of soils in both primary and secondary forest, from sea-level up to 1000 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
