Petraeovitex multiflora (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Petraeovitex multiflora (J.E. Smith) Merr.

Family: Verbenaceae

Synonyms

Petraeovitex riedelii Oliv.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: tali bubu, hahiat, seru wari (Ambon).

Distribution

The Moluccas, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands.

Uses

In the Moluccas the branches are used for fixing fishing nets and hoop nets, and as anchor cables. They are tough and flexible, do not break easily and are seawater-resistant.

Observations

A slender liana or herbaceous scrambler; stems up to 3 cm in diameter, branches tetragonal. Leaves decussately opposite, once or twice 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate-elliptical to ovate-oblong, up to 11 cm × 6 cm. Inflorescence a loose cymose panicle up to 50 cm long; flowers bisexual, small, 5-merous; calyx about 1 mm long but lobes much enlarging in fruit; corolla about 3 mm long, 5-lobed, white to yellowish; stamens 4; ovary superior, puberulous at apex, style long-exserted. Fruit a capsule about 1.5 mm long, enclosed by the enlarged calyx having lobes up to 1.5 cm long. P. multiflora occurs in lowland forest, primary as well as secondary, also in swamp forest, sometimes in open localities and roadside regrowth, up to 800 m altitude.

Selected sources

71, 120, 122.

Authors

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