Parasponia andersonii

Primary tabs

Parasponia andersonii

Description

Shrub to medium-sized tree, up to 15 m and 30 cm ø. Bark smooth to nodular, grey-brown; Leaves ovate to elliptic, thin-coriaceous, (5—)8—12 (-14) by (2-)3-4(-6) cm (index 2-3), broadest below or at the middle; Stipules ovate-acute, sparsely hairy outside, 6-10 by 3-4 mm. Inflorescences ♂, ♀, or rarely ♂♀, 10-30-flowered, at anthesis condensed or lax, shorter than or as long as the petiole, including the bracts densely silvery, soft-hairy;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Melanesia present, New Britain present, New Caledonia present, New Hebrides present, Pacific: Fiji (Fiji present), Polynesia present, Solomons present, Tahiti present, several islands off Madang and Milne Bay present
Polynesia (Tahiti), Melanesia (Fiji, New Hebrides, Solomons, very common), ? New Caledonia (no specimen seen but cf. ); in Malesia: New Guinea (several islands off Madang and Milne Bay) and New Britain. .

Uses

In the Solomons the bark is reputed to have medicinal properties.

Citation

SEE-MANN 1867: Fl. Vit.: 235
PARHAM 1972: Pl. Fiji Isl.: 133