Leea rubra Blume ex Spreng.
Pasir Panjang, Kelantan, Malaysia.
(Image credit Abidin Hussin, Malaysia).
Note: The leaves belongs to a Mimosa diplotricha, a Fabaceae.
Reddish inflorescence cyme of Leea rubra Blume ex Spreng. Vitaceae. CN: [Malay and regional vernacular names - Mali-mali puchok merah, Mali-mali, Memali padang; Ginggijan beureum (Sundanese), Girang (Javanese); Katangbai, Khueang (Thai)]. Distribution - from India and southern China to New Guinea and Australia. A small semi-herbaceous shrub, up to 3 m tall; leaves 2-4-pinnate, leaflets numerous, rachis (2.5-)5-25(-42) cm long, petiole 2-8(-15) cm long, stipules a narrow wing, 2-4 cm x 0.3-0.5 cm, leaflets ovate to ovate-oblong or elliptical to elliptical-lanceolate, (2-)4-8(-14) cm x (0.3-)1.5-4(-6) cm, base rounded to acute, apex acute to shortly acuminate, margin crenate to shallowly serrate. Cyme (4-)8-14(-16) cm long, generally compact, rusty pubescent, bracts deltoid-triangular, inconspicuous; flowers bright red, calyx 2-2.5 mm x 1.5-2.5 mm, glabrous, staminodial tube about 1-2 mm long, upper free part 1-1.3 mm long, lobes shallowly retuse or cleft, sinuses deep, ovary 4-6-celled; berry 8-10 mm in diameter, dark red, 6-seeded; seed 4 mm x 4 mm. Uses - In Peninsular Malaysia, the ground root mixed with arsenic is externally applied as a poultice against yaws, while the sap of the plant is drunk simultaneously. In Java, the leaves are externally applied for poulticing wounds, the fruits are eaten as a remedy against yaws and dysentery. In Indo-China, a decoction or tincture of the root is taken against stomach-ache, rheumatism and arthritis. In Thailand, the roots are used as an antipyretic and diaphoretic.
Note: In the horticultural trade the name Leea rubra is often used for the reddish-leaved forms of Leea guineensis. The genuine Leea rubra is not cultivated.
Synonym(s):
Leea brunoninan Clarke
Leea linearifolia Clarke
Leea polyphylla Miq.
Leea rubra var. apiifolia Zipp. ex Miquel
Leea rubra f. celebica Koord.
Leea rubra var. polyphylla (Miq.) Miq.
Ref. and suggested reading:
FRIM Flora Database
www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-34000006
www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21729
Leea rubra Blume ex Spreng.
Pasir Panjang, Kelantan, Malaysia.
(Image credit Abidin Hussin, Malaysia).
Note: The leaves belongs to a Mimosa diplotricha, a Fabaceae.
Reddish inflorescence cyme of Leea rubra Blume ex Spreng. Vitaceae. CN: [Malay and regional vernacular names - Mali-mali puchok merah, Mali-mali, Memali padang; Ginggijan beureum (Sundanese), Girang (Javanese); Katangbai, Khueang (Thai)]. Distribution - from India and southern China to New Guinea and Australia. A small semi-herbaceous shrub, up to 3 m tall; leaves 2-4-pinnate, leaflets numerous, rachis (2.5-)5-25(-42) cm long, petiole 2-8(-15) cm long, stipules a narrow wing, 2-4 cm x 0.3-0.5 cm, leaflets ovate to ovate-oblong or elliptical to elliptical-lanceolate, (2-)4-8(-14) cm x (0.3-)1.5-4(-6) cm, base rounded to acute, apex acute to shortly acuminate, margin crenate to shallowly serrate. Cyme (4-)8-14(-16) cm long, generally compact, rusty pubescent, bracts deltoid-triangular, inconspicuous; flowers bright red, calyx 2-2.5 mm x 1.5-2.5 mm, glabrous, staminodial tube about 1-2 mm long, upper free part 1-1.3 mm long, lobes shallowly retuse or cleft, sinuses deep, ovary 4-6-celled; berry 8-10 mm in diameter, dark red, 6-seeded; seed 4 mm x 4 mm. Uses - In Peninsular Malaysia, the ground root mixed with arsenic is externally applied as a poultice against yaws, while the sap of the plant is drunk simultaneously. In Java, the leaves are externally applied for poulticing wounds, the fruits are eaten as a remedy against yaws and dysentery. In Indo-China, a decoction or tincture of the root is taken against stomach-ache, rheumatism and arthritis. In Thailand, the roots are used as an antipyretic and diaphoretic.
Note: In the horticultural trade the name Leea rubra is often used for the reddish-leaved forms of Leea guineensis. The genuine Leea rubra is not cultivated.
Synonym(s):
Leea brunoninan Clarke
Leea linearifolia Clarke
Leea polyphylla Miq.
Leea rubra var. apiifolia Zipp. ex Miquel
Leea rubra f. celebica Koord.
Leea rubra var. polyphylla (Miq.) Miq.
Ref. and suggested reading:
FRIM Flora Database
www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-34000006
www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21729