Aralidium pinnatifidum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Aralidium pinnatifidum (Jungh. & de Vriese) Miq.

Protologue: Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(1): 763 (1856).

Family: Aralidiaceae

Chromosome number: 2n= c. 40

• Brunei: daun tutchol antu (Iban)
• Indonesia: kayu attarodan (Sumatra, Batak), segentut (Gayo), medung (general)
• Malaysia: balai, sebalai, hempedu buaya (Peninsular)
• Thailand: khot nok kuut (Phangnga), phrommakhot (Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang), phapuu nga (Yala).

A. pinnatifidum is distributed in peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo.

In Peninsular Malaysia, the leaves of A. pinnatifidum are reputedly used as a poultice to treat boils and are used as a diaphoretic against fever. A decoction of the leaves is said to be useful in a foment for treating rheumatism. A decoction of the roots is drunk or a piece of the stem is placed in the mouth to induce bowel movement. Smoke from burning leaves is used to repel insects from rice fields. A. pinnatifidum is listed among plants used as dart poison. The dull red and hard wood is sometimes used for construction, but it is only available in smaller dimensions. It may be useful for flooring and furniture.

The iridoid glucosides griselinoside and aralidioside have been isolated from A. pinnatifidum . Flavonoid constituents are absent in the leaves. A general phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids and terpenes in the leaves.

The wood is dull red, hard and with fine grain. It often splits badly during drying.

A small dioecious tree up to 10 m tall, rarely up to 20 m tall, with bole up to 25 cm in diameter; buds enclosed in long-shedding leaf-bases. Leaves arranged spirally, pinnately incised, frequently as deep as the midrib, with lobes oblong-acuminate and decurrent on the midrib, occasionally blade entire and broadly ovate, c. 30 cm long, glabrous; petiole 5-12 cm long, clasping the stem; stipules absent. Inflorescence a terminal or occasionally axillary panicle, up to 50 cm long, pendulous, many-flowered. Flowers small, unisexual, 5-merous, creamy or red-tinged, fragrant; pedicel articulated; calyx and petals densely puberulent, petals imbricate; male flowers with persistent petals, 5 stamens and rudimentary ovary; female flowers with caducous petals, 5 staminodes and inferior, 1-celled ovary, styles 3-4. Fruit drupe-like, usually obliquely ellipsoid, up to 4.5 cm long, purplish or black and juicy when ripe, 1-seeded. Seed broadly ellipsoid, up to 2.5 cm long, with deep ruminations at the surface.

A. pinnatifidum can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year. It is the single species of a genus which was often included in Araliaceae or Cornaceae . However, it has several unique features. For that reason, it was suggested that it be placed separately in Griseliniaceae because it seemed to be related to Griselinia . After a multidisciplinary study however it was concluded that the establishment of a separate family Aralidiaceae was most appropriate. A. pinnatifidum can be mistaken for Artocarpus species, which have similar leaves.

A. pinnatifidum occurs frequently in primary rain forest, but is also commonly found in open bamboo forest and secondary regrowth, up to 1250 m altitude, in Borneo up to 1800 m.

Management A. pinnatifidum can be cultivated easily; it has no special requirements and grows well under partial shade or under open but cool conditions, such as forest edges.

Concerns about A. pinnatifidum being endangered seem to be unnecessary because it is common in many regions, even in secondary regrowth, and is not often gathered.

Little is known about the constituents of A. pinnatifidum , and nothing about its pharmacological properties. Compounds such as flavonoids, which often have interesting pharmacological activities, are very poorly represented. It is still uncertain whether the traditional uses bear any relation to active constituents.

121, 247.

282, 427, 705, 731, 744.

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H.C. Ong