Ophiorrhiza communis Ridley
Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia |
Pokok peparu, penberak nasi.s |
| Thailand | Pen-berak naa-si (Malay, peninsular). |
Geographical Distributions
Ophiorrhiza communis is distributed in peninsular Malaysia and peninsular Thailand.
Description
O. communis is almost an unbranched herb, pubescent or hairy that can grow up to measuring about 30 cm tall.
The leaves are ovate or lance-shaped, with a size of measure about 8-15 cm x 2.5-3.5 cm, equal base, acuminate apex, glabrescent above, veins and sometimes the whole beneath surface pubescent, with a size of measure about 2.5 cm long petiole and setaceous stipules. The branches of cyme are slender, up to measuring about 2.5 cm long, hairless or hairy and with a measure 2.5 cm long peduncle.
The flowers are white in colour and rarely pink and the pedicel is as large as sepal. The sepal is ovoid in shape, short lobes and blunt while the petal is tubular and with short lobes.
The capsule is transverse oblong in shape while the upper margin is straight and slightly hairy.
Ecology / Cultivation
O. communis is common in secondary forest, from sea-level up to 2000 m altitude, except in the southernmost area of Peninsular Malaysia, where O. singaporensis replaces it.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (2): Medicinal and poisonous plants.
