Acriopsis javanica (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Acriopsis javanica Reinw. ex Blume
- Protologue: Bijdr. fl. Ned. Ind.: 377 (1825).
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= 40
Vernacular names
- Brunei: kambang sa-tahun
- Indonesia: ki plengpeng (Sundanese), tongkil-tongkil (Batak), bosur-bosur hau (Sumatra)
- Malaysia: anggerek darat, sakat bawang, sakat ubat kepialu (Peninsular)
- Papua New Guinea: gaere (Musa), sakko (Amele), sandaru (Orokaiva)
- Thailand: ruuhinee (Nakhon Si Thammarat)
- Vietnam: tổ yến.
Origin and geographic distribution
A. javanica occurs from Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China and Thailand, throughout Malesia, to the Solomon Islands and Australia (Cape York Peninsula); possibly also in India (Sikkim).
Uses
There are records from Malaysia of a decoction of A. javanica roots and leaves used internally to treat fever.
Properties
Traces of alkaloids have been identified in A. javanica .
Botany
An epiphytic herb up to 115 cm tall, with creeping, branched rhizome; main roots fleshy, with many thin catch roots; pseudobulbs crowded, ovoid, 1.5-6 cm × 1-3 cm, each pseudobulb with (2-)3-4 leaves. Leaves linear, 5-32 cm × 0.5-2 cm. Inflorescence a many-flowered panicle, erect or drooping, peduncle up to 60 cm long. Flowers 8-14 mm in diameter, greenish-white to cream-coloured with purple markings, with 2 boat-shaped sepals, 2 spreading petals and a 3-lobed lip placed before the lower sepal (together giving a cross-shaped outline to the flower); column straight, hood covering the anther which has 4 pollinia in 2 pairs attached to a slender stipe. Fruit globular, ellipsoid or obovoid, 1-2.5 cm × 1 cm, opening with 3 valves. Seeds very small, fusiform, situated between long hairs.
A. javanica can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Acriopsis is a genus of 6 species, of which A. javanica is the most widely distributed. Three varieties are distinguished, based on the shape of the lip.
Ecology
A. javanica is a common epiphyte on trees in primary and secondary rain forests, freshwater and coastal swamp forests, up to 1600 m altitude.
Genetic resources
A. javanica is widely distributed and common and does not seem to be threatened. However, var. floribunda (Ames) Minderhoud & de Vogel is only known from 2 collections in the Philippines.
Prospects
It is not possible to determine the potential of A. javanica as a medicinal plant because no information exists on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties.
Literature
121, 628.
Other selected sources
331, 334.
Main genus page
Authors
Diah Sulistiarini
