Holarrhena pubescens

Content

Description

Shrub or tree to 15 m. Branchlets pubescent or occasionally glabrous. Leaves: Inflorescence appearing as an axillary cyme, rarely terminal, 3.8-9 cm long, lax, pubescent; Flowers fragrant. Sepals ovate to linear, 1.8-4.2 by 0.8-1.3 mm, 1.5-4 times as long as wide, pubescent outside, pubescent or glabrous inside; Stamens inserted at 2-2.3 mm from corolla base; Ovaries 0.6-1.2 mm long; Fruit pendulous, 18-43 cm by 3-7 mm. Seeds glabrous, 13-17 by 1.3-3 mm, coma 23-50 mm long.

Distribution

Asia-Temperate, Asia-Tropical: Bangladesh (Bangladesh present); Cambodia (Cambodia present); India present; Laos (Laos present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present, Eastern and Southern Africa present, Nepal present

Eastern and Southern Africa, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Thailand, LaosCambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: Possibly Peninsular Malaysia (see note).

Taxonomy

1 There is considerable confusion over the use of the name H. antidysenterica. This has been clarified by . 2 It is likely that H. malaccensis Wight (= H. pubescens Wall. ex G. Don) was described from a cultivated plant grown in Malacca because H. pubescens is otherwise unknown from Peninsular Malaysia. This species, however, has been collected in Peninsular Thailand not far north of the border so may be native in Peninsular Malaysia.

Uses

The bark and oil from the seeds is used as a treatment for amoebic dysentery. A decoction of the bark or leaves can also be added to baths for the treatment of scabies. The leaves can be used for the treatment of bronchitis and on boils, ulcers and haemorrhoids. The wood can be used for the manufacture of all manner of small objects.

Citation

Kurz 1877 – In: Forest Fl. Burma: 182

Kerr 1939 – In: Craib, Fl. Siam. 2: 448

Hook.f. 1882 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 644

Pradhan 2001 – In: Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra State Dicot. 2: 322

M.F. Watson 1999 – In: Fl. Bhutan: 671

Kurz 1877 – In: Forest Fl. Burma: 181

Tsiang & P.T. Li 1977 – In: Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin.: 117

Lý 1986 – In: Feddes Repert.: 617

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 441

King & Gamble 1907 – In: J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal: 445

Pit. 1933 – In: Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 3: 1169

T.C. Huang 1986 – In: Taiwania: 97

de Kruif 1981 – In: Meded. Landbouwhoogeschool Wageningen: 17

A.DC. 1844 – In: Prodr.: 413

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 349

Wight 1848 – In: Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient.: t. 1297

P.T. Li et al. 1995 – In: Fl. China: 180

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 440