Pterococcus corniculatus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Pterococcus corniculatus (Smith) Pax & Hoffm.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Synonyms

• Plukenetia corniculata Smith.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: aroi tang-tang angin (West Java)
• Malaysia: chumbai, pina-pina, pepina.

Distribution

From northern India to Burma and Thailand, and scattered throughout western Malesia to the Moluccas and Flores.

Uses

The sweet leaves are eaten cooked with coconut milk.

Observations

• Woody climber, 2-3 m tall, glabrous.
• Leaves cordate-oblong with glands, 7-19 cm × 3-10 cm, dentate.
• Fruit a conspicuously 4-winged or 4-horned capsule.

In young forest from 100-300 m altitude. It is cultivated on sandy soils under shade. Propagation by cuttings or by seed.

Selected sources

2, 3, 4, 7, 20, 44, 86.