Alchornea villosa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Alchornea villosa (Benth.) Müll. Arg.

Protologue: Linnaea 34: 168 (1865).

Vernacular names

• Malaysia: rami bukit, rami hutan, malam petai (Peninsular).

Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.

Uses

The roots and leaves have been prescribed in Malaysia to treat itch; this species is also used as an antidote for poisoning. In Indonesia, the leaf juice has been applied to cure fever and a poultice of leaves to treat headache. The bark provides a good fibre; it is very tough.

Observations

A shrub up to 6 m tall; leaves ovate, palmately 3-5-veined from the base, golden hairy beneath, long-petiolate, stipulate; male inflorescence axillary, slender, female one terminal and stout. A. villosa is locally common in lowland forest, particularly in secondary forest and edges, up to 300 m altitude.

Selected sources

22, 121, 178, 334, 990.

Main genus page

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Authors

R.H.M.J. Lemmens