Urceola micrantha (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Urceola micrantha (Wall. ex G.Don) D.J.Middleton
- Protologue: Apocynaceae
Synonyms
Ecdysanthera micrantha (Wall. ex G.Don) A.DC., E. utilis Hayata & Kawakami, Parabarium spireanum Pierre ex Spire.
Vernacular names
- Thailand: katang katiu (eastern), yaang yuet (northern).
Distribution
From India, Nepal, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand throughout Indo-China to Peninsular Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Japan.
Uses
Before the arrival of the para rubber the latex was considered for commercial exploitation. In a sample originating from Burma (Myanmar) 11.5% resin had been found in the latex.
Observations
Liana with finely puberulent branches which contain latex. Leaves opposite; petiole up to 2 cm long; blade elliptical to ovate, 3-18 cm × 1-6 cm, about 2-4 times as long as wide, base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate. Inflorescence consisting of axillary and terminal cymes forming a panicle up to 18 cm long; flowers 5-merous, white to greenish-white; corolla campanulate, tube up to 1.5 mm long, lobes overlapping to the right in bud, about 1 mm long. Fruit a pair of divergent follicles, linear, up to 25 cm × 1 cm. Seed flattened ellipsoidal, up to 18 mm × 4 mm, coma up to 6 cm long. U. micrantha occurs in evergreen or secondary forest up to 1500 m altitude. It is very variable and widespread.
Selected sources
11, 27, 33, 42.
