Cocculus laurifolius
Content
Description
Erect shrub or tree up to 6 m, with main stem up to 12 cm ø.
Branchlets glabrous.
Leaves:
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Philippines (Philippines present); Thailand (Thailand present), Burma present, Japan present, Luzon present, Mindoro present, Nepal present, Palawan present, S. China present
India to Nepal, Burma, S. China, Japan, Taiwan, Indochina and Thailand; in Malesia: Suma-tra, throughout Java, Philippines (Palawan, Luzon, Mindoro).
Uses
BURKILL (1935) records the presence of an alkaloid in the bark which has an action similar to that of curare, and is known as cocculine or coclau-rine.
Notes
In contrast to C. trilobus, C. laurifolius displays remarkably little variation in its leaf-shape. This may be connected with the fact that this species is not a climber, but an erect shrub or small tree, one of the rare examples of this life-form in the family. Judging from dried material, the fruits appear to be much less fleshy than those of C. trilobus, but notes on their size and colour in the fresh state are lacking.
Although the species occurs in Thailand and Indo-china and again in Sumatra and Java, it apparently does not occur in the Malay Peninsula.
Cultivated as an ornamental in milder parts of Europe and North America.
Although the species occurs in Thailand and Indo-china and again in Sumatra and Java, it apparently does not occur in the Malay Peninsula.
Cultivated as an ornamental in milder parts of Europe and North America.
Citation
HASSK. 1848: Pl. Jav. Rar. p 167
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc. Trop. Agric. p 102
DC. 1868 – In: Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. p 84
K. & V. 1903 – In: Bijdr. p 95
BURK. 1935 – In: Dict. p 594
BACK. 1911: Schoolfl. Java. p 45
COLEBR. 1822 – In: Trans. Linn. Soc. p 65
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java. p 231
BOERL. 1899 – In: Cat. Hort. Bog. p 39
DELESS. 1820: p. 25. – In: Ic. Pl. t. 97
HOOK.f. & TH. 1872 – In: Fl.Br. India. p 101
WALP. 1846 – In: Rep. p 17
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat. p 81
SCHEFF. 1873: p. 393. – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I. t. 12
HOOK.f. &TH. 1855: Fl. Ind. p 191
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip. p 149
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java. p 159
Diels 1910: p. 239. – In: Pfl. R. f. 79
MIERS 1871 – In: Contr. Bot. p 277
MIERS 1871 – In: Contr. Bot. p 276
FOR-MAN 1962 – In: Kew Bull. p 485
FORMAN 1974: p. 479. – In: Kew Bull. t. 15A-G.