Pajanelia longifolia
Content
Description
Evergreen, small to large tree up to 30 m, 1 m Ø, changing leaves before flowering.
Leaves 1-pinnate, 8-12-jugate, 40-120cm;
Flowers with a soapy smell, pale yellowish, inside dull-purple shaded.
Capsule stiped, 30-45 by 5-9 cm (incl. the 2-3 cm wide, often splitting wings), with a dorsal ridge, and a corky margin on which the wings;
Seeds in rows on each margin of the septum, curved, 2¼-3 by ¾-l¼ cm (incl. the hyaline wings).
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Atjeh cultivated
As the genus. Erroneously recorded for the Philippines by . Rarely planted (Atjeh). .
Ecology
Indian authors cite it as being evergreen, but in the Natuna Is. I found it shortly deciduous. KURZ found it in Burma an evergreen tree. He recorded it from the Andaman Is. as Very abundant in the leafless jungles', that is: monsoon forest (). PARKINSON gave no definite clue on the leaf change.
The calyx contains water in bud, like other coarse-flowered members (Spathodea, Oroxylum, etc.).
Uses
GAMBLE () said it is a good timber with close-grained wood. PARKINSON l.c. found it common in the Andaman Is. where it is used for canoes, planking, and boat-building; timber smells like teak and seems to withstand attacks of white ants. KURZ (1870) recorded the largest tree with a trunk of 2 m Ø. In the Natuna Is. it is estimated for building boats.
In the latter islands a decoction of leaves is used against fever; in Malaya a hot fermentation is applied on the body for stomach disorders ().
In the latter islands a decoction of leaves is used against fever; in Malaya a hot fermentation is applied on the body for stomach disorders ().
Notes
For obscure reasons BEDDOME (l.c.) found this anomalous in the family, its flower reminded of Jasmineae; but he also included Schrebera (OIeaceae).
Citation
A.P.DC. 1877 – In: Fl. Burma: 237
STEEN. 1932: p. 164. – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: f. 2 (map).
Clarke 1884 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 384
G. DON 1838 – In: Gen. Syst.: 221
STEEN. 1928 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 267
Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 549
BUREAU 1864: Mon: 50: t. 20
GAMBLE 1905 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 382
PARKINSON 1923: For. Fl. Andam.: 215
WIGHT 1850 – In: Ill.: t. 161bis
KURZ 1875: Prel. Rep. For. Veget. Pegu: App. A: xciii, App. B: 69
BEDD. 1872: p. clxix. – In: Fl. Sylv.: t. 21-5
A.DC. 1845 – In: Prod.: 227
BRANDIS 1906: Ind. Trees: 494
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 758