Matthaea sancta Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 2 (1856)
Latin for 'holy or sacred', probably referring to a religious use, or planted near holey sites.Synonyms
Ficus pulchra Wall.
Matthaea calophylla Perkins
Matthaea latifolia Perkins
Matthaea sancta var. mindanaoensis Perkins
Matthaea sancta var. venulosa Perkins
Mollinedia sancta (Blume) Baill.
Description
Shrub up to 8 m tall and 16 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite,
simple, penni-veined, glabrous. Flowers ca. 7 mm diameter, green-yellow,
disc-shaped, flowers growing on shared receptacle. Fruits ca. 21 mm long,
blue-black, fleshy drupes connected via swollen receptacle.
Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp and sub-montane forests up to 1500 m
altitude. On hillsides and ridges. Also on limestone soils. In secondary forests
usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant.
Uses
The branches are used to build houses. The leaves are smoked with tobacco to
relieve headaches.
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, East-Kalimantan),
Philippines, Celebes.
Local names
Borneo: Kayu sama.
