Matthaea chartacea

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Description

Shrub or small tree to 10 m; Hairs persist on the young fruit, but the numerous ripe drupes are glabrous, shining black, wrinkled, c. 20 by 15 mm (dry), long-stipitate (c. 18 mm long). Leaves oblong-ovate, (13-) 15-20 (-25) by 6—9.5(—12) cm, apiculate with an obtuse or acute apex, chartaceous, glabrous when mature (rarely a few hairs retained at the base of the blade); Inflorescences axillary, solitary or few in the same axil.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Karakelong present, Laguna present, Leyte present, Luzon present, Mindanao present, Mindoro present, N. Moluccas present, Talaud Is present, Tayabas Prov present, Zamboanga Prov present

Malesia: Philippines (Luzon: Laguna&Tayabas Prov.; Mindoro; Leyte; Mindanao: Zamboanga Prov.) and N. Moluccas (Talaud Is.: Karakelong). .

Uses

The stem is scraped and applied for head-aches. The plant is used in hunting rituals.

Notes

This species is similar to M. pubescens except for the lack of indumentum. Although both these species occur on Mindanao, their ranges do not overlap, M. chartacea being confined to the west and M. pubescens to the east.

Citation

PHILIPSON 1982 – In: Blumea: 80

PERKINS 1911 – In: Pfl. R.: 18

Merr. 1923: p. 186. – In: En. Philip.: f. 1-2