Stemona tuberosa var. ternatensis
Content
Distribution
Ambon present, Asia-Tropical: Lesser Sunda Is. (Bali present); Philippines (Philippines present), Ceram present, Flores present, Halmahera present, Jamdena I present, Lombok present, Morotai present, Timor present, Wetar present, western part present
Malesia: Philippines, Bali (sterile), Lombok, Flores, Timor, Wetar, Jamdena I., Morotai, Halmahera, Ceram, Bum (sterile), Ambon, Irian Jaya (western part).
Taxonomy
Variety ternatensis seems related to Stemona phyllantha Gagnep., Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. (1934) 147, from Thailand, but differs by the peduncle being partly fused with the petiole, and by a large perianth, with the tepals 60 mm or longer.
Uses
No uses are mentioned on the field labels, but Rumphius, l.c., gives extensive data on medicinal properties.
Notes
Loureiro added to the description of Stemona tuberosa only one reference: "Rumphius Ubium Polypoides, t. 129". There has been confusion in the interpretation of Rumphius' Ubium Polypoides or Ubi Gorita. Rumphius distinguished in Ubium Polypoides two taxa, viz.: "Album, seu vulgare Ubium Gorita" (Ubium with the white tuberous roots), and "Ubi Gorita nigrum" (Ubium with the black tuberous roots). The first, "Album, seu vulgare Ubium Gorita" is characterized i.a. by the peduncle being partiy fused with the petiole. The habitats of this Ubium are given in detail, and it is evident that this taxon is the same as the present S. tuberosa var. ternatensis, which is a common plant in the Moluccas. The second, "Ubi Gorita nigrum", clearly depicted on table 129, is characterized i.a. by the peduncle emerging from the leaf-axil, not fused with a part of the petiole. Of this Ubium Rumphius noted that it is found much less frequently than the Ubium with the white tuberous roots. "Ubi Gorita nigrum" is the same taxon as S. tuberosa var. tuberosa, which was, as far as is known, never collected on Ambon after Rumphius' time. As the type of S. tuberosa could not be traced, I have indicated table 129, with the appropriate description, as lectotype of S. tuberosa var. tuberosa.
According to Beguin 1725 from Halmahera, the plant has a bunch of thick fleshy roots, as also described by Rumphius, l.c. According to the label of Museumtuin no 991 (ex Ambon) the roots are yellow on the outside and white within.
Rumphius, l.c., wrote that in young plants the leaves are alternate, in older plants opposite.
Flowers and open fruits have a disagreeable fetid odour and the plant, when crushed, has an unpleasant smell. Miller NGF 9712 noted skin irritation caused by sap of the plant.
According to Beguin 1725 from Halmahera, the plant has a bunch of thick fleshy roots, as also described by Rumphius, l.c. According to the label of Museumtuin no 991 (ex Ambon) the roots are yellow on the outside and white within.
Rumphius, l.c., wrote that in young plants the leaves are alternate, in older plants opposite.
Flowers and open fruits have a disagreeable fetid odour and the plant, when crushed, has an unpleasant smell. Miller NGF 9712 noted skin irritation caused by sap of the plant.