Goniothalamus malayanus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Goniothalamus malayanus Hook.f. & Thomson

Family: Annonaceae

Synonyms

Goniothalamus puncticulatus Boerl. & Koord.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: sugi lado itam (Palembang)
• Malaysia: pisang-pisang, kenanga paya, dada kura.

Distribution

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand (peninsular & south-western), Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo.

Uses

In Indonesia the strong and durable inner bark is made into rope and string. The wood may be used as timber. The leaves when burnt are effective as a mosquito repellent.

Observations

A small tree, up to 15 m tall. Leaves alternate, simple, entire; stipules absent; petiole 5-14 mm long; blade obovate-elliptical, 12.5-22(-28) cm × 3.5-9 cm, base acute to obtuse rounded, apex acuminate, veins 14-16 pairs. Flowers solitary, axillary, pendent; sepals 2-8 mm × 3-7.5 mm, green; outer petals up to 6.2 cm long, greenish-yellow; inner petals up to 14 mm long, golden-yellow; stamens 80-250; carpels 8-20. Fruit composed of several monocarps; monocarp 16-37 mm long, 1-3-seeded. G. malayanus is found in freshwater-swamp and peat-swamp forests up to 100(-400) m altitude. Flowering and fruiting is year-round. All parts of the plant contain the styrylpyrone derivative goniothalamin, which has antifertility effects. The synonym G. puncticulatus is often misspelled as G. punctilatus . The related species G. tapis Miq. (synonym: G. sumatranus Miq.) has medicinal properties, while the bark is used for tying and for weaving mats.

Selected sources

20, 71, 89, 151, 191.

Authors

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