Premna tomentosa (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Premna tomentosa Willd.
- Protologue: Sp. pl. 3(1): 314 (1800).
Synonyms
- Premna pyramidata Wallich (1827),
- Premna flavida Miq. (1861).
Vernacular names
- Bastard teak (En)
- Indonesia: bulang (Javanese, Sundanese), gembulang (Javanese), leban capo, bebulang handak (Sumatra)
- Malaysia: bebuas, sarang burong, tembaroh (Peninsular)
- Papua New Guinea: garogira (Papa, Central Province)
- Burma (Myanmar): kyunbo, kyunnalin, nathabyu
- Thailand: kapiat (Prachuap Khiri Khan), po fan, sak khe kai (northern), saam paang (Chanthaburi).
Distribution
Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, Thailand and the Malesian region (at least Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Timor).
Uses
A decoction of the roots and leaves has been used in Malaysia as a tonic in mixtures after childbirth. The bark was used in Indonesia to treat diarrhoea. In Papua New Guinea, the leaves are crushed and applied to sores. The leaves are reputed to have diuretic properties, and they are used externally to treat dropsy. In Thailand, the dried entire plant is used to soothe skin irritation caused by caterpillars. The leaves have been used in veterinary medicine against maggots in wounds. The timber is used for house building and furniture, and also for carving and turnery.
Observations
- A shrub or small to medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall, with bole up to 30(-50) cm in diameter, often crooked and fluted at base, bark fissured or striate and shaggy, grey or yellowish to pale brown or pale rusty; indumentum consisting of branched or stellate hairs.
- Leaves ovate or ovate-orbicular to ovate-oblong, (3-)10-35 cm × (2.5-)6-22 cm, entire, densely tomentose beneath, petiolate.
- Flowers with pedicel 0.5-1 mm long, corolla white, greenish-white or yellowish.
- Fruit obovoid-globose, 3-6 mm long, green turning black.
P. tomentosa closely resembles P. odorata, but differs in the branched or stellate hairs. It occurs frequently in open forest and deciduous forest, in Java up to 800 m altitude.
Selected sources
- [97] Backer, C.A. & Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr, R.C., 1963-1968. Flora of Java. 3 volumes. Noordhoff, Groningen, the Netherlands. Vol. 1 (1963) 647 pp., Vol. 2 (1965) 641 pp., Vol. 3 (1968) 761 pp.
- [202] Burkill, I.H., 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. Revised reprint. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol. 1 (A-H) pp. 1-1240. Vol. 2 (I-Z) pp. 1241-2444.
- [580] Heyne, K., 1950. De nuttige planten van Indonesië [The useful plants of Indonesia]. 3rd Edition. 2 volumes. W. van Hoeve, 's-Gravenhage, the Netherlands/Bandung, Indonesia. 1660 + CCXLI pp.
- [972] Moldenke, H.N. & Moldenke, A.L., 1983. Verbenaceae. In: Dassanayake, M.D. & Fosberg, F.R. (Editors): A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Vol. 4. Amerind Publishing Co., New Delhi, India. pp. 196-487.
Main genus page
- Premna (Medicinal plants)
Authors
- L.B. Cardenas
- Rusea Go
