Anadendrum microstachyum (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Anadendrum microstachyum (de Vriese & Miq.) Backer & Alderw.
- Protologue: Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, ser. 3, 1: 371 (1920).
- Family: Araceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= 60
Synonyms
Anadendrum montanum Schott (1857).
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: akar meroyan sembang, akar segunja, daun ketam (Peninsular)
- Thailand: krak (Phangnga), khieo hua duan (Chanthaburi), thao thakhaap (Trat)
- Vietnam: ráy thượng thụ núi.
Origin and geographic distribution
A. microstachyum is found in Indo-China, southern China, southern Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines (Mindanao).
Uses
In Peninsular Malaysia, hot and oiled leaves of A. microstachyum have been applied to the abdomen to treat remittent fever and after childbirth, and a decoction of leaves and roots has been used internally during childbirth. The leaves are sometimes eaten in curries, and the roots as a vegetable.
Botany
A climbing herb up to 10 m long, creeping by means of adhesive roots. Leaves alternate, distichous, obliquely ovate-oblong, (7.5-)9-25 cm × 3.5-11.5 cm, entire, with reticulate fine venation; petiole (3.5-)5-25 cm long, with sheath nearly to apex, geniculate apically; stipules absent. Inflorescence a spadix 1-3.5(-5) cm × 0.5 cm, stipitate, cylindrical, enclosed in an overtopping, greenish-white, caducous spathe. Flowers bisexual, with a cup-like perianth; stamens 4; ovary superior, subquadrangular, 1-locular. Fruit a berry, subglobose, distinctly truncate apically, orange-red, 1-seeded. Seed subglobose, with smooth glossy testa; endosperm absent.
Anadendrum is classified in the subfamily Monsteroideae as the only genus of the tribe Anadendreae . It consists of approximately 7 species and is restricted to tropical Asia, to the same area as A. microstachyum . A. montanum is here considered a synonym of A. microstachyum . Calla montana Blume is apparently the basionym for Rhaphidophora montana (Blume) Schott, not for Anadendrum montanum Schott, but further clarification is required.
Ecology
A. microstachyum is a hemi-epiphyte climbing on trees, sometimes on rocks, usually in humid tropical rain forest, but also in secondary forest and teak forest, in Java up to 1300 m altitude. It is common in many places.
Genetic resources
A. microstachyum has a large area of distribution, is common in many regions, and also occurs in secondary forest. It seems safe to state that it is not liable to genetic erosion.
Prospects
The absence of information on its phytochemistry and properties makes it impossible to determine the potential of A. microstachyum as a medicinal plant.
Literature
121, 611.
Other selected sources
62.
Main genus page
Authors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens
