Semecarpus cassuvium
Content
Description
Tree, sometimes treelet, 4-26½ m high and 3-40 cm Ø, sometimes myrmecophilous.
Leaves spaced, spiral, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate, or obovate-oblong, 15-22 by 7½-10½ cm;
Flowers white.
Petals imbricate, ovate or ovate-oblong, 2 by 1-1¼ mm in ♂ (3½-4½ by 1¼-3 mm in ♀), puberulous outside, with c. 12 rather faint, longitudinal veins.
Stamens 2-2½ mm;
Panicles terminal, 10-31(-60) cm long, pubescent, glabrescent;
Ovary dome-shaped, c. 2½ mm Ø, velutinous;
Distribution
Ambon present, Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Asmat region present, Banda present, Buru I present, Canys R present, Ceram present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Lorentz R present, Sepik present, Sula Is present, Sumba present
Malesia: Lesser Sunda Is. (Sumba, once), Celebes (one coll., unlocalized), Moluccas (Moro-tai, Sula Is., Ceram, Ambon, Buru I., Banda), and New Guinea (Lorentz R., Asmat region, Canys R., Sepik, Morobe, Northern, Eastern and Milne Bay Districts, and Normanby I.).
In Herb. Bog. there is a collection, TEYSMANN 2344 HB, said to have come from Sumatra. I assume it is mislocalized.
In Herb. Bog. there is a collection, TEYSMANN 2344 HB, said to have come from Sumatra. I assume it is mislocalized.
Uses
RUMPHIUS reported that the smallish hypocarp remains green and is eaten; the very young (white) leaves can be eaten raw, although otherwise the sap of every part is very poisonous; it is used as a black dye in the Moluccas (HEYNE l.c.).
Citation
HEYNE 1927: Nutt. Pl.: 980
C.B. ROB. 1912 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 413 & 418
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 626
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 1991
Merr. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 334
Engl. 1883 – In: DC., Mon. Phan. 4: 487
SPRENG. 1825 – In: Syst. Veg. 1: 936
Bl. 1850 – In: Mus. Bot.: 187
Roxb. 1832 – In: Fl. Ind., ed. Carey: 85
DE WIT 1959 – In: Rumph.: 404