Litsea pipericarpa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Litsea pipericarpa (Miquel) Kosterm.

Family: Lauraceae

Synonyms

• Polyadenia pepericarpa Miquel,
• Lindera pipericarpa (Miquel) Boerl.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: kulit antarsa, kulit pulaga (Sumatra)
• Malaysia: medang serai.

Distribution

Indonesia (Sumatra), Peninsular Malaysia.

Uses

All parts contain an essential oil consisting of citral, citronellal, cineole and geraniol. The fruits resemble peppercorns and are used similarly as a flavouring. In Java, seed and bark are used to make face powder. The fruits are used medicinally like cubebs (Piper cubeba L.f.) as a tonic, against indigestion, as antiseptic and diuretic. The wood can be used to make small objects. The tree has been suggested for reafforestation purposes and as a shade tree in tea.

Observations

• Dioecious tree, up to 18 m tall with grey or green smooth bark.
• Leaves alternate; petiole 1-2 cm long; blade narrowly elliptical, 7-12.5 cm × 2-5 cm, pointed at base and apex, glaucous below, secondary veins in 7-11 pairs.
• Inflorescence a small umbel, in axillary clusters or from twigs behind leaves.
• Flowers 1-6 per umbel, enclosed in 2-4 involucral bracts, yellow, fragrant; perianth lobes 6; stamens in male flower 9 or 12, in 3 or 4 rows, 3rd and 4th rows with glands; anthers 4-celled.
• Fruit a 1-seeded, globose berry, 0.5 cm in diameter, green but turning black at maturity, seated on small perianth cup.

L. pipericarpa is common and often grows gregariously in forest clearings, up to 3000 m altitude. Crushed parts (especially the bark) smell strongly of citronella or eucalyptus.

Selected sources

• Burkill, I.H., 1935. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Crown Agents for the Colonies, London, United Kingdom. 2402 pp. (slightly revised reprint, 1966. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2444 pp.).
• Kostermans, A.J.G.H., 1970. Materials for a revision of Lauraceae 3. Reinwardtia 8(1): 21-196.
• Whitmore, T.C. & Ng, F.S.P. (Editors), 1972-1989. Tree flora of Malaya. A manual for foresters. 4 Volumes. 2nd Edition. Malayan Forest Records No 26. Longman Malaysia Sendirian Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen