Ixora longifolia (PROSEA)
 |
Introduction |
Ixora longifolia J.E. Smith
- Protologue: Rees, Cycl. XIX: n. 3 (1811).
Synomyms Ixora amboinica (Blume) DC. (1830), Ixora fulgens auct. non Roxb.
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: jarong-jarong (Moluccas).
Distribution
The Moluccas.
Uses
The roots have been reported long ago to be used against pain in the side in the Moluccas, both internally and externally; chewing the roots has been reported to ease toothache.
Observations
A shrub 1.5-3 m tall; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 15-30 cm × 9-11 cm, herbaceous or subcoriaceous, base rounded or subacute, apex acuminate, with about 13 secondary veins, petiole 1-1.5 cm long, stipules broadly triangular, shortly awned; inflorescence loose, shortly pubescent, peduncle 3 mm long, with up to 100 flowers; flowers with calyx tube 0.5 mm long, lobes broadly ovate and 0.5 mm long, corolla tube 4 cm long, lobes about 1 cm long, acute, red; fruit red turning black at maturity. I. longifolia is found in abandoned fields and dense scrub up to the beach, but it is less common at higher elevations.
Selected sources
97, 182, 580, 1126, 1227, 1265.
Authors
M.C. Ysrael & J.L.C.H. van Valkenburg
