Coscinium fenestratum
Content
Description
Large liana with yellow wood and sap.
Branchlets terete, obscurely ridged or smooth, brownish tomentose at first, later glabrescent, becoming whitish, bearing prominent disciform petiole-scars.
Leaves:
Inflorescences:
Seed whitish, subglobose, enveloping the condyle;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Cambodia (Cambodia present); Malaya present; Sumatera (Sumatera present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Banka present, Ceylon present, S. India present, W. Java present
Ceylon, S. India, Cambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: Malaya, Sumatra (incl. Banka), W. Java, Borneo.
Uses
The wood produces a yellow dye (used together with Curcuma in Cambodia). A decoction of the stem and leaves is used medicinally. It has been known in Europe as False calumba, being a substitute for Calumba (Jateorhiza). The plant has alleged antiseptic properties and is used in Malaya to dress wounds and ulcers. The species is used as an ingredient for arrow poisons in Malaya (). According to the notes on S 32149 and 33332 from Sarawak, the effects of intoxication can be avoided if the roots are chewed and the juices swallowed before drinking.
GRESHOFF () recorded that the leaves contain picrotoxin-like bitter substances. Like most previous authors, GRESHOFF wrongly applied the name C. blumeanum to the present species. Alkaloids found by JEWERS et al. () were: palmatine, berberine and jatrorrhizine. The record of the same three alkaloids by THORNBER () under C. blumeanum probably refers to this species. Further alkaloids were reported by SIWON et al. ().
GRESHOFF () recorded that the leaves contain picrotoxin-like bitter substances. Like most previous authors, GRESHOFF wrongly applied the name C. blumeanum to the present species. Alkaloids found by JEWERS et al. () were: palmatine, berberine and jatrorrhizine. The record of the same three alkaloids by THORNBER () under C. blumeanum probably refers to this species. Further alkaloids were reported by SIWON et al. ().
Notes
The fruits are eaten and dispersed by orang-utans, gibbons and macaques in E. Borneo (information from Dr. M. LEIGHTON, Harvard Univ.).
Citation
BACK. 1911: Schoolfl.: 41
BACK. & BAKH.Ƒ 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 156
Miq. 1868 – In: Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat.: 80
SCHEFF. 1873: p. 396. – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I.: t. 6
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc.Trop. Agric.: 38
SCHEFF. 1873: p. 395. – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I.: t. 5
BECC. 1877 – In: Malesia: 144
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc. Trop. Agric.: 38
HOOK.f. & TH. 1872 – In: Fl. Br. India: 99
BECC. 1877 – In: Malesia: 144
HOOK. 1852: Bot. Mag.: t. 4658
HOOK.f. & TH. 1855: Fl. Ind.: 178
MIERS 1871: p. 22. – In: Contr. Bot.: t. 88
Koord. 1912: Exk. Fl. Java: 232
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 669
Ridl. 1922 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 106
Ridl. 1922 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 106
Diels 1910: p. 113. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 41H-N
BOERL. 1899 – In: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 38
COLEBR. 1926 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: 367
HEYNE 1927: Nutt. Pl.: 621
King 1889 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 381
Merr. 1921: En. Born.: 248
FORMAN 1978 – In: Kew Bull.: 325
MIERS 1871 – In: Contr. Bot.: 23
BOERL. 1899 – In: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 38
King 1889 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 381
Diels 1910 – In: Pfl. R.: 112
BACK. 1911: Schoolfl.: 41
HOOK.f. & TH. 1872 – In: Fl. Br. India: 99
BACK. & BAKH.Ƒ 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 156
Ridl. 1900 – In: J. Str. Br. R. As. Soc.: 42