Thottea tomentosa
Content
Description
Sub woody herb, from creeping base erect to erecto-patent, 10-35 cm;
Leaves chartaceous or subcoriaceous, variable in shape and size even on one plant, ovate, elliptic or broadly elliptic, elliptic-oblong, ob-ovate or oblanceolate, rarely suborbiculate, (4-) 7-18 (-24) by (1.7-) 3-15 (-17) cm;
Inflorescences near the base of the branches, sometimes hidden under fallen leaves, in the axils of bracts or not well developed (small) leaves, often simple and spiciform, up to c. 12 cm long, pubescent;
Stamens 6, in 1 whorl;
Capsule slender, 3.5-5 (-15), often obscurely 4-angular, pubescent, glabrescent.
Seeds oblong, trigonous, c. 4 by 2 mm, rugose.
Distribution
Alabat I present, Asia-Tropical: Assam (Assam present); Bangladesh (Bangladesh present); Borneo absent; India present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Bien Hoá present, Burma present, Hort. Bog cultivated, Jayabas present, Manipur & S. Andaman Is present, Mindanao present, Moulmein present, Panay present, Peninsular Thailand present, South Vietnam present, Sylhet present, West & Central Java present
India (Assam: Manipur & S. Andaman Is.), Bangladesh (Sylhet), Burma (Moulmein), South Vietnam (Bien Hoá), Peninsular Thailand; in Malesia: Malay Peninsula (throughout), Sumatra, West & Central Java, and Philippines (Jayabas, Alabat I., Panay, Mindanao), not yet found in Borneo. Cultivated in Hort. Bog. n. XI-B-XIII-138.
Uses
In Malaya the plant is used for poulticing skin-complaints and boils (along with Illigera). In Java the stems and leaves may be pounded and the juice swallowed for coughs. The roots and leaves are used as a diuretic during confinement. In W. Java also used against snake-bites (BURKILL, l.c.; HEYNE, l.c.).
Notes
T. tomentosa is the widest ranging species of the genus. It is the only species in Java.
Fruits are surprisingly rare and hitherto accepted as indehiscent. However, in a Thailand collection it had split with 4 valves.
The species is allied to the Indian T. siliquosa (LAMK) DING Hou and the Bornean T. paucifida (see note under the latter); T. siliquosa has 9 stamens in 3 groups, the anthers dorsally and the style lobes densely hooked-hairy.
Fruits are surprisingly rare and hitherto accepted as indehiscent. However, in a Thailand collection it had split with 4 valves.
The species is allied to the Indian T. siliquosa (LAMK) DING Hou and the Bornean T. paucifida (see note under the latter); T. siliquosa has 9 stamens in 3 groups, the anthers dorsally and the style lobes densely hooked-hairy.
Citation
GRIFF. 1847 – In: Ann. Sc. Nat. Bot. p 340
Clarke 1889 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot. p 61
BACK. & BAKH. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java. p 162
Koord. 1926: p. 589. – In: Exk. Fl. Java. f. 871
SOLEREDER 1919 – In: Trop. Natuur. p 164
BURK. 1935 – In: Dict. p 189
Bl. 1911 – In: J. Str. Br. R. As. Soc. p 161
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen. p 15
Hook.f. 1886 – In: Fl. Br. India. p 73
O.K. 1891 – In: Rev. Gen. Pl. p 563
KING & GAMBLE 1912 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng. p 25
BEUMÉE 1919 – In: Trop. Natuur. p 15
HEND. 1951: Mal. Wild Fl: 423. f. 382E
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip. p 120
BACK. 1918: p. 179. – In: Trop. Natuur. f. 1-4
LINDL. 1846: Veg. Kingd: 793. f. 526
BENN. 1838: p. 43. – In: Benn. & Brown, Pl Jav. Rar. 1. t. 11
SCHMIDT 1935 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam., ed. 2, 16b. p 234
ZOLL. 1854 – In: Syst. Verz. p 118
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip. p 120
SOLEREDER 1889 – In: Bot. Jahrb. p 431
SCHMIDT 1935: p. 234. – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam., ed. 2, 16b. f. 120A-G
LINDL. 1846: Veg. Kingd. p 794
HEYNE 1927: Nutt. Pl. p 596
DU-CHARTRE 1864 – In: DC., Prod. 15. p 431
KANJILAL c.s. 1940 – In: Fl. Assam. p 30
SCHMIDT 1935 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam., ed. 2, 16b. p 234
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat. p 1068
STEEN. 1932 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg. p 204
Ridl. 1910 – In: J. Str. Br. R. As. Soc. p 89
MOORE 1925 – In: J. Bot. Suppl. 83
GRIFF. 1845 – In: Trans. Linn. Soc. p 336