Embelia parviflora Wall. ex A.DC., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 130 (1834)
Species name meaning 'with sparse flowers'.
Synonyms
Embelia disticha H.R.Fletcher
Embelia myrtifolia Mez
Embelia pulchella Mez
Ribesiodes parviflorum (Wall. ex A. DC.) Kuntze
Ribesioides myrtifolium (Hemsl. & Mez) Kuntze
Samara parviflora (Wall. ex A. DC.) Kurz
Description
Shrubs scandent, villous-tomentose on branchlets, petioles, pedicels, and inflorescences, otherwise
villous. Branchlets terete, 2.5-3 mm in diam., sparsely lenticellate, glandular. Petiole canaliculate,
0.5-1 mm; leaf blade ovate or broadly so, 1-1.5(-2.5) x 0.6-1(-1.3) cm, papery, glossy, glabrous,
sparsely red punctate near apex, villous or scaly abaxially, base broadly rounded to truncate or cordate,
margin entire, apex obtuse or rounded; midrib impressed adaxially; lateral veins inconspicuous.
Inflorescences axillary, staminate usually cymose, 7-10(-15) mm, (1-)2-4(-6)-flowered; pistillate usually
subumbellate, 4-7(-10) mm, (2-)3-5-flowered; bisexual fasicled, 3-5(-7) mm, 3-8-flowered, pendulous;
bracts lanceolate to subulate, 0.6-1 mm, red punctate, densely villous. Flowers white or greenish white,
5-merous, membranous, staminate 2.5-3 mm, pistillate 1.8-2.3 mm, bisexual 2-2.5 mm. Pedicel 3-8 mm in
staminate, 2-5 in pistillate, 0.5-1.5 mm in bisexual. Sepals ovate, subdeltate, or oblong, densely red
punctate, glabrous except sparsely villous basally, margin entire, glandular ciliate. Petals free, ovate,
lanceolate, or oblong, papery, glabrous outside, red or black punctate, densely red glandular granulose
inside, margin glandular ciliate, apex obtuse or emarginate. Stamens slightly longer than petals in
staminate flowers, ca. 3/4 petal length in bisexual flowers; anthers broadly ovate in staminate, ovate
in bisexual, and lanceolate in pistillate flowers, base cordate, apex acute or slightly emarginate,
connective densely black punctate. Style sparsely glandular papillate basally; stigma capitate, 4-lobed.
Fruit dull red, globose, 3-5 mm in diam., red punctate-lineate. [from Flora of China]
Ecology
Dense mixed forests, evergreen broad-leaved forests, shrubby areas, hillsides, humus-rich soil, shady
places; up to 1800(-2200) m elevation.
Uses
Several Embelia species are well known for their anthelmintic and taeniafuge uses. The active principles
primarily act as a purgative.
Distribution
From India and southern China and Hainan into Indochina.
Local names
China: Dang gui teng.
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