Kibara coriacea

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Kibara coriacea

Description

Tree to 22 m or rarely a scandent shrub, young branches glabrous or pubescent. Leaves opposite (rarely subopposite or whorled); Inflorescences axillary, supra-axillary, terminal, or cauliflorous, pubescent, cymes solitary or several arising at the same node, varying from simple 3-flowered cymes to complex pleiochasia with lateral branches branching to the third or fourth de-gree, male flowers on the lower branches;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical
Throughout Malesia.

Uses

The fruit is said to be edible, and the leaves are used to flavour meat dishes.

Notes

Although this species varies in respect to the size and shape of its foliage and inflorescences, the number of its parts and the degree of its pubes-cence, it retains a character over its extensive range which ensures its recognition. This is best expressed by the broad, pliant, fresh green leaves and the open-ly branched inflorescence with strong pedicels to the female flowers which terminate the more distal branches. Specimens with the largest inflorescences occur in Sumatra. The range of variation appears greatest in the Philippines, and, when more complete material becomes available, several species which have been described from there may yet prove to be valid, though here reduced to synonymy. The flowers are yellow, the male being somewhat greener; the drupes are black, borne on a yellow to orange receptacle.

Citation

PHILIPSON 1985 – In: Blumea: 406
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 185
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 185
PERKINS 1911: p. 35. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 11
PER-KINS & GILG 1904: p. 62. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 16B
PERKINS 1898 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 576
PERKINS 1901: p. 60. – In: Pfl. R.: f. 16A.
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 185
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 117
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 184
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 75
Bl. 1856 – In: Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat.: 89
Bl. 1856 – In: Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat.: 89
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 185