Prunus dementis

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Prunus dementis

Description

Trees up to 30 m, bark grey, rough (only one note). Leaves oblong, 10-22 by 3.5-9 cm, base rounded, apex gradually tapering to acuminate, herbaceous, with 9-15 pairs of nerves, venation usually not conspicuous, both surfaces hairy when young, (almost) glabrous when mature, basal glands 2-4, distinctly hollowed to flat. Stipules ovate to narrowly triangular, 5-7.5 by 2-4.5 mm, intrapetiolarly connate by their keeled midribs, with inconspicuous marginal glands. Stamens 20-40, filaments up to 4.5 mm, hairy at base, anthers 0.3-0.4 mm long. Ovary densely to more sparsely hairy, style up to 4.5 mm long. Fruits compressed subglobular to transversely ellipsoid, 13-14 by 14-17(-20) mm, exocarp more or less hairy to glabrous, dark red (information scarce), endocarp glabrous inside. Seed with glabrous testa.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Mindanao present, N peninsula and central part present
Mindanao, Celebes (N peninsula and central part).

Uses

Used as medicine for headache and skin eruptions (Frake PNH 36173, probably referring to the bark).

Notes

Only two from the c. 10 collections seen were collected in more or less recent times, i.e. after World War II. The Philippine species Prunus dementis, fragrans, and rubiginosa are poorly known.

Citation

Merr. 1923 – In: Enum. Philipp. Flow. Pl.: 232