Anneslea fragrans (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Anneslea fragrans Wallich
- Protologue: Pl. asiat. rar. 1: 5, t. 5 (1829).
- Family: Theaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Vernacular names
- Cambodia: sau phi
- Thailand: saraphi, hak (northern), ban ma (north-eastern)
- Vietnam: luương xương, chè béo.
Origin and geographic distribution
Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, southern China, Hainan, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.
Uses
In Cambodia, the bark, mixed with other drugs, has been applied to treat dysentery and as a vermifuge, and the leaves have been used in a complex mixture which was considered a good remedy for fever. In China, the bark is used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, and in Vietnam and China against liver inflammation.
Botany
A small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall, with columnar bole, not buttressed; outer bark reddish, smooth or shallowly grid-cracked, inner bark fibrous, brown. Leaves alternate, simple and entire, lanceolate to oblanceolate or obovate, 6-15 cm × 2.5-5.5 cm, cuneate at base, usually acute at apex, leathery; petiole 2-3 cm long; stipules absent. Inflorescence terminal, umbel-like. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, with 2 bracteoles subtending the calyx; calyx with unequal, up to 1.5 cm long lobes, persistent; petals shortly connate at base, up to 2 cm long, constricted below the middle; stamens numerous, anthers linear, with prolonged connective; ovary semi-inferior to inferior, 2-3-celled, style filiform, persistent. Fruit berry-like, globular to ovoid, c. 2 cm in diameter, crowned by the calyx lobes, with several seeds.
Anneslea consists of 3-7 species, depending on the species concept, and has the same area of distribution as A. fragrans . In addition A. steenisii Kobuski occurs in the mountains of northern Sumatra and A. lanceolata (Hayata) Kanehira in Taiwan.
A. fragrans is a variable species within which several varieties have been distinguished. In Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia) only var. crassipes (Hook.f. ex Choisy) Pierre (synonym: A. crassipes Hook.f. ex Choisy) has been found.
Ecology
A. fragrans occurs scattered or in small groups in open deciduous or evergreen forest, particularly at the summit or on ridges of hills and mountains, at 800-2000 m altitude.
Genetic resources
A. fragrans is fairly widely distributed, and often grows in inaccessible locations in mountainous regions. It is therefore unlikely to be endangered by habitat destruction.
Prospects
Too little is known about the properties and phytochemistry of A. fragrans to judge its potential as a medicinal plant.
Literature
494, 732.
Other selected sources
121, 249, 990.
Main genus page
Authors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens
