Leea aequata (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Leea aequata L.
- Protologue: Syst. Nat. ed. 12, 2: 627 (1767).
Synonyms
Leea hirta Roxb. ex Hornem. (1813), Leea hispida Gagnep. (1910).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: ginggiyang (Sundanese), girang (Javanese), mali-mali (Makassar)
- Vietnam: củ rối phún.
Distribution
From India and Burma (Myanmar), throughout South-East Asia and Malesia, but absent in New Guinea.
Uses
The roots, tubers and stems are mucilaginous and astringent. Leaves and twigs have antiseptic properties and are used for poulticing wounds. In Java, the sap obtained from young shoots is ground with ashes and applied to cleanse wounds.
Observations
A shrub, treelet or less frequently a small tree up to 10 m tall, young branches usually densely hairy; leaves 1-3-pinnate, leaflets 5-numerous, rachis 7-20(-25) cm long, petiole (5-)8-14(-20) cm long, stipules oblong-obovate 1.5-4.5 cm × 3-6(-10) cm, pubescent to densely hairy, leaflets ovate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptical to elliptical-lanceolate, (3-)10-22(-30) cm × (1.5-)4-8(-12) cm, base cuneate to truncate, sometimes unequal, apex acuminate, margin serrate, pearl-gland rounded to discoidal, large, conspicuous and brown; cyme 4-14(-20) cm long, rusty pubescent to hairy, bracts up to 8 mm × 5 mm, conspicuous; flowers greenish white, calyx about 4 mm × 4 mm, glabrous to pubescent, usually with pearl-glands, staminodial tube about 2 mm long, upper free part 1.5-2 mm long, lobes deeply notched, sinuses shallow, ovary 4-7-celled; berry 8-15 mm in diameter, orange-red, 5-6-seeded; seed 4-6 mm across. L. aequata has a widespread but scattered distribution, in secondary vegetation from sea-level up to 1400 m altitude, usually at lower elevation.
Selected sources
- 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.
215, 407, 949.
Authors
Tahan Uji
