Prismatomeris tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schumann
Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Prismatomeris malayana Ridley, Prismatomeris albidiflora auct. non Thwaites.
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Sepedeh, mundess, susun kelapa hutan (Peninsular). |
|
Indonesia |
Mentulang (Bangka). |
|
Philippines |
Hagpo (Ibanag). |
|
Cambodia |
Romdenh men, romdenh meas. |
|
Thailand |
Kraduk kai (Peninsular), to kraduk (Loei), son pa (Nakhon Ratchasima). |
|
Vietnam |
Mu[oof]i, l[aw]ng trang. |
Geographical Distributions
Prismatomeris tetrandra occurs in north-eastern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), southern Laos, Vietnam, southern China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Anambas Islands (Indonesia) and the Philippines (Luzon).
Description
Prismatomeris tetrandra is a shrub or small tree which can grow up to 7 m tall. Its young branches are with 2 prominent longitudinal ridges.
The leaves are arranged decussately opposite on vertical branches, distichously opposite on horizontal branches, simple and entire, elliptical or narrowly elliptical to ovate or narrowly ovate, measuring 3-23 cm x 1-8 cm, truncate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, papery to leathery and pinnately veined. The petiole is 2-25 mm long. The stipules are interpetiolar, narrowly triangular, measure up to 7.5 mm long and caducous or persistent.
The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary cyme and with up to 20 flowers. The flowers are bisexual, heterodistylous and strongly scented. The pedicel is up to 3.5 cm long. The sepal is tubular, measures up to 2.5 mm long and usually denticulate. The petal is saucer-shaped, where the tube is up to 3 cm long while lobes are up to 2.5 cm long, spreading and white. The stamens are inserted above the middle of the petal tube. The ovary is inferior, with 2-celled, threadlike style and 2-lobed stigma.
The fruit is a spherical drupe, measures 7-11 mm in diametre, blackish-purple to blackish-blue and 1-seeded.
The seed is almost spherical, measures up to 9 mm in diametre and with dark reddish-brown testa while the endosperm is corneous.
Ecology / Cultivation
Prismatomeris tetrandra occurs mainly in highland regions up to 1800 m altitude, and has been collected in primary and secondary, damp and dry, evergreen and deciduous forests and occasionally in savanna woodlands.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3.
