Matthaea sancta
Content
Description
Shrub or small tree, rarely to 15 m;
Leaves lanceolate-oblong to oblong, 15.5-31 by 3.5-9.5 cm, acuminate, base broadly cuneate, truncate or rounded, chartaceous, often somewhat bullate, margin entire or dentate distally, glabrous;
Inflorescences axillary, solitary or fascicled.
Distribution
Anambas Is present, Asia-Tropical: Borneo present (Kalimantan present, Sabah present, Sarawak present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Cebu present, Luzon present, Mindanao present, Negros present, Pahang present, Perak present
Malesia: Sumatra, Malay Peninsula (Perak&Pahang to Singapore), Anambas Is., Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, Kalimantan), Philippines (Luzon, Negros, Cebu, Mindanao) and Celebes. .
Uses
The wood is heavy and branches are used in building houses. The leaves are smoked with tobacco to relieve headaches.
Notes
The only species with a wide geographical range. Leaf size and breadth are variable, as is the degree of toothing of the margin. Typical leaves are narrowly-oblong, apiculate, and with distant, prominent, strongly arched lateral veins. Broader and more coarsely toothed leaves appear to occur more frequently to the east of the range, but no basis for subspecific taxa can be discerned. The wood is said to be reddish and moderately hard. The ripe fruit is blue-black.
Citation
Blume 1901: p. 52. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 10
PHILIPSON 1982: p. 82. – In: Blumea: f. 1-3
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 73
PERKINS 1911: p. 17. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 7B-C.
Blume 1911 – In: Pfl. R.: 18
PERKINS 1901 – In: Pfl. R.: 52
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 186
PERKINS 1901: p. 52. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 10
PERKINS 1898: p. 563. – In: Bot. Jahrb.: t. 5d
PERKINS 1911: p. 17. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 7A.