Symplocos fasciculata (Kuntze) Zoll., Syst. Verz. 2 (1854)
Latin for 'bundled', referring to the inflorescence.
Synonyms
Dicalyx tinctorius Blume
Eugeniodes fasciculatum Kuntze
Symplocos fasciculata var. blumeana K. & V.
Symplocos fasciculata var. minor Miq.
Symplocos phanerophlebia Merr.
Description
Shrub, or less often a tree to 22 m high and 50 cm diameter. Twigs sparsely pilose, puberulous, or appressedly
pubescent, glabrescent, often zigzag. Leaves alternately or (on the leaders) spirally arranged,
glabrous above, sparsely appressedly fine-hairy beneath, rarely patently hirsute, especially on midrib
and nerves and towards the margin, (narrowly) elliptic or sometimes ovate, acuminate to caudate
with acute to rounded base, 5-13(-18) by 2-4.5(-6) cm; nerves (4-)6-8(-11) pairs, meeting in a
looped intramarginal vein ; petiole 2-8 mm. Flowers in a fascicle of reduced, often branched, racemes to
2.5 cm long. Bracts and bracteoles persistent, minute (rarely to 3 mm), as the axis pubescent;
often several bracts present, indicating the origin from a more branched inflorescence, Pedicel
1-5 mm, pubescent. Calyx divided into (4-)5(-6) broadly ovoid, rounded, appressed pubescent or
glabrous lobes, c. 1 mm long but sometimes the lobes different in size. Often some of the lobes
petaloid. Corolla glabrous or more often with minute hairs towards the outer base, rarely some
hairs on the back too, 2-4.5 mm. Stamens 12-35. Disk glabrous to more or less pilose, low annular.
Ovary appressedly hairy, c. 1 mm high ; style hairy, especially towards the thickened base, rarely
glabrous, 2-3.5 mm. Fruit broadly or narrowly ampulliform, often curved, the belly globose or
ovoid, the neck broadly conical, dark violet-blue or cobalt-blue, 5-7 by 3-5 mm; stone brain-like
grooved without or with c. 10 shallow grooves. Seed 1, much lobed, with slightly curved embryo.
[From Flora Malesiana]
Ecology
In primary high and open secondary forest and thickets, common in disturbed forest,
rather indifferent to soils, besides on latosols, recorded from sand (Banka), in Borneo from sandstone,
black soils, seasonally swampy land and Dipterocarp forest, also riparian, in Udjong Kulon
from raised coral limestone, from sea-level up to c. 2200 m.
Uses
The moist from pounded bark is used to treat eye sore.
Distribution
From Peninsular Thailand to New Guinea (apparently absent on the Lesser Sunda Islands).
In Borneo found throughout the island.
Local names
Borneo: Giak, Girak, Gumiting puteh, Idabo, Jirah, Jirak, Labah, Leboh, Loboh, Njam-njam, Pachal ambok, Periaboh.
Malaysia: Kerenang, Nasi-nasi, Menasi.
Sumatra: Kayu loba-loba, Djarak bulau, Djirok, Kekatja, Lelebah, Pipi udan, Lebomelukut, Hapu-hapu, Havu-havu.
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