Chloranthus elatior Link Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 140 (1821)

Remarks
Some floras follow the name Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Verdcourt because B. Verdcourt (Kew Bull. 40: 217. 1985), rejected the name Chloranthus elatior R. Brown ex Sims as a nomen nudum, and C. elatior Link as too poorly known to be usable; the latter was based on a sterile cultivated plant and the type was destroyed in Berlin.

Synonyms
Chloranthus elatior R.Br.
Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet ex Wall.
Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Verdc.
Chloranthus erectus Sweet
Chloranthus inconspicuus Blanco [Illegitimate]
Chloranthus officinalis Blume
Chloranthus salicifolius C.Presl
Chloranthus sumatranus Miq.
Cryphaea erecta Buch.-Ham.

Description
Subshrubs to 2 m tall. Stems terete, glabrous. Leaves opposite; petiole 5-13 mm; leaf blade broadly elliptic or obovate to long obovate or oblanceolate, 10-20 × 4-8 cm, rigidly papery, glandular, glabrous, base cuneate, margin serrate, apex gradually narrowed to caudate; lateral veins 5-9 pairs. Spikes terminal, dichotomously or racemosely branched, rearranged in panicles, long pedunculate; bracts triangular or ovate. Flowers white, small. Stamens 3; connectives confluent and ovoid, not elongate, apical part 3-lobed; central lobe larger, with a 2-loculed anther; lateral lobes smaller, with a 1-loculed anther each; thecae at central or apical parts of connective. Ovary ovoid. Fruit green when young, white at maturity, obovoid, ca. 5 mm. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jul-Sep. [from Flora of China]

Ecology
In secondary and primary forests up to 2300 m elevation. At high elevations it often occurs in Araucaria and Fagaceae dominated forests, often on limestone. The lowland habitats include Pandanus and palm forests, riverine forests and boggy areas.

Uses
Leaves and roots are used as aphrodesiac, especially for women. In India the juice of the boiled branches is used as a contraceptive, and the root and the bark acts as a antispasmodic during childbirth. The leaf extract is considered a cure for venereal diseases. The plant is also used to treat fever, and pain killer.

Distribution
From India and southern Himalayas to southern China, Indochina, Philippines, Indonesia to New Guinea.

Local names
Cambodia: Kbak Damrei.
China: Yu zi lan.
Indonesia/Malaysia: Dikut Dikut (Sarawak), Harostulang (Sumatra), Keras Tulang, Langut Langut (Sarawak), Rami Hutan (Pen. Malaysia), Sambau Paya (Pen. Malaysia), Sigueh Putih (Pen. Malaysia), Uya Uyahan (Java).
Philippines: Barau Barau (Luzon), Tul-an Hinbad (Samar), Tunggao (Tagbanua).
Thailand: Hom Kai (N. Thailand), Kraduk Kai (C. Thailand).