Ardisia humilis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Ardisia humilis Vahl

Protologue: Symb. bot. 3: 40 (1794).

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: lampeni (Sundanese), lempeni (Javanese), jambulan pante (Malay, Manado).

Distribution

Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and the Moluccas.

Uses

In western Java the leaves are used to treat scabies. The fruits are administered as a vermifuge and cardiotonic.

Observations

A shrub or small tree up to 5(-10) m tall; leaves obovate to narrowly oblong, 6.5-16.5 cm × 2.5-7.5 cm, with numerous glandular dots, secondary veins numerous; inflorescence an axillary raceme, often umbelliform; corolla c. 10 mm long, reddish-violet; fruit 6-8 mm in diameter. Several other Ardisia species have been confused with A. humilis . This makes it difficult to interpret the literature and to deduce the exact area of distribution. A. humilis is locally fairly common, especially near the sea, in periodically dry localities such as teak forest, village groves and brushwood, up to 500 m altitude.

Selected sources

62, 334.

Main genus page

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Authors

R.H.M.J. Lemmens