Shrub or small tree, 2-3 m. Leaves elliptic-oblong to narrow elliptic-oblong, papyraceous, 10-18 by 4-6½ cm, acuminate, base cuneate to subrotundate, margins distinctly fimbriate-dentate; nerves 8-13 pairs, slightly elevated on both surfaces; petiole 1-1.5 cm. Stipules 7-10 mm long. Inflorescences cymose, 1.5 cm long, 5 mm peduncled. Flowers white or red. Bracteoles decussate, ovate, keeled, persistent. Calyx 5-7-lobed, lobes lanceolate, acuminate, 3-4 mm long, shortly hairy within. Petals sagittate, unguiculate, c. 4 mm long, slightly emarginate, conduplicate, base acute and inflexed. Stamens 3-4 mm; anthers ovoid, obtuse, rarely slightly apiculate. Ovary 1-celled, with 10-12 ovules; style 4.5 mm; stigma discoid. Fruits wine-red, ellipsoid, sometimes slightly curved, 15 by 6 mm, 1-celled, 1-seeded, crowned by the remains of the floral parts. Seeds oblong, slightly curved, 11 by 4 mm, brown.
Uses. The leaves are used by the Malayans both internally and externally. "In the form of an infusion of the leaves, it is taken internally for worms, coughs, and after child-birth as a protective medicine; in the form of a decoction it is employed for bathing in fever; and as a poultice of the pulped leaves it is applied to boils" (cf. Burk. Dict. 1 1935 449 ).
Home