Erycibe tomentosa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Erycibe tomentosa Blume

Family: Convolvulaceae

Synonyms

Erycibe princii Wall. ex Choisy.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: akar akar kait (Bangka), tuba tuba (Kalimantan)
• Malaysia: akar perut kijang, jambul siul (Peninsular).

Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, West Java, Madura, Kangean Islands, Borneo and the Philippines (Leyte).

Uses

The slender stems are used for tying.

Observations

A climber, up to 25 m long or shrub, up to 3 m tall. Leaves spirally arranged, simple, entire; petiole 3-6 mm long; blade ovate to elliptical or oblong, up to 18 cm × 8.5 cm, 5-8-veined, base slightly cordate, apex usually distinctly acuminate. Inflorescence cymose, axillary, near apex of branch terminal, 3-15(-25)-flowered; corolla white, 7-9 mm in diameter, tube 2.5-3 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid to ovoid berry, 12 mm × 7 mm, orange to red, black when mature. E. tomentosa occurs in scrub and forest up to an 1200 m altitude. The stems of the related species E. expansa Wall. ex G. Don, are used by fishermen in Peninsular Malaysia to make ropes.

Selected sources

20, 47.

Authors

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch