Erythroxylum cuneatum Kurz

Small to large tree or a shrub, (1-)8-40(-45) m, up to 35-55 cm diam. Bark noted to be grey to brown often with vertical grooves, inner bark yellow to reddish brown. Branches 1.5-4 mm diam., brown to black when dried, the tips 1-3 mm diam. Leaves very variable in size and shape, even on the same twig, mostly obovate, elliptic or oblong, c. (3-)5-11(-18) by 2-3(-7) cm; dark green to greenish brown often shining above, dull light green beneath, shortly acuminate or rounded with a more or less emarginate, mostly mucronate tip, base attenuate or cuneate; midrib nearly always sunken above, very prominent beneath; nerves on both sides equally distinct, often almost horizontal and close together giving a dense nervation, venation delicate; areolation often distinct; petiole 2-7(-9) mm. Stipules triangular to lanceolate, mostly as long as the petiole, not divided, entire, distinctly bicarinate c. 2-7(-9) mm, top mostly curved. Ramenta very rarely a few. Flowers in clusters of 1-8, mostly in pairs, faintly scented. Bracteoles deltoid, scarious, c. 1 mm long, 1-nerved. Pedicels thickened towards the calyx, c. (1-)4-10 or in fruit even to 35 mm (in the Philippines). Calyx tube c. 2-1.5 mm high; lobes triangular, c. 0.5-1.5 mm, acuminate with a bluntish tip. Petals white, whitish green to light green and yellow (also pink recorded from Central Celebes), oblong or oblong-elliptic, convex, c. 3-4 by 1.5-2 mm; ligule 3-lobed, half as long as the blade; claw often distinctly narrowing towards the base, c. 1/3 as long as the petal. Flowers dimorphous, both types either with equal or unequal stamens. Brachystylous flowers. Staminal tube c. 1-2 mm. Stamens equal; filaments c. 2-3.5 mm; anthers c. 0.5 by 0.5 mm. Ovary ellipsoid or ovoid, somewhat longer than staminal tube, c. 2 by 1 mm, top often truncate; styles (2-)3, c. 1-2 mm, shortly connate or only connate at the base, stigmas capitate, often flattened, broader than the style. Brachystylous flowers. Staminal tube 1-1.5 mm. Stamens unequal; episepalous filaments c. 1½-4 mm, epipetalous ones c. 2-4.5 mm; anthers 1/3 by 1/3 mm. Ovary ovoid to subglobular somewhat longer than staminal tube, c. 1.25-2 by 1-1.5 mm; styles c. 1.25-2 mm, very shortly connate at the base; stigmas oblong-ovate, broader than the style. Dolichostylous flowers. Staminal tube c. 1-2 mm. Stamens equal; filaments c. 2-4 mm, sometimes thickened at the base. Ovary ellipsoid to subglobular, somewhat longer than staminal tube, c. 2-1.5 by 1 mm, styles c. 2-5 mm, connate from 1/3 to 2/3 of their length, stigmas capitate, often flattened, broader than the style. Dolichostylous flowers. Staminal tube c. 1.5-2 mm. Stamens unequal; episepalous filaments c. 0.5-0.75 mm, epipetalous ones c. 1-1.25 mm; anthers c. 0.5 by 0.5 and 0.5 by 0.25 mm respectively. Ovary ellipsoid to subglobular, somewhat longer than the staminal tube, c. 2-1.5 by 1 mm, styles c. 2-4 mm, connate to various degree from 0.5 to 0.125 of their length, stigmas capitate, often flattened, broader than the style. Drupe oblong-ovoid, often somewhat curved, red, when dry obtusely trigonous, distinctly furrowed, top pointed, c. 1-12 by 3-6 mm; fertile cell as large as or smaller than sterile cell, bilaterally compressed, sterile cells distinct and large, on both sides of the fertile cell. Seed flattened often somewhat curved, with distinct furrows, c. 5-10 by 1-2.5 mm, endosperm little; embryo flattened, slightly curved or straight, green, c. 4-8 by ½-1½ mm; cotyledons linear, very thin, c. 2.5-6 by ½-1½ mm; radicle distinct 1.5-3.5 mm.

Very tolerant and found in a variety of habitats. It is often a tree or shrub behind sandy beaches or rocky shores; in Johore it is a characteristic constituent of the Eugenia grandis coastal forest. Also inland it is found under various conditions: sandy or rocky hills, average dryland forest, inundated peat-forest, sometimes on exposed limestone summits, both in primary and secondary vegetation. Sometimes in groups, more often scattered and nowhere dominant, from sea-level up to 900 m. Fl.-fr. Jan.-Nov.

Uses. The sap wood is white to yellow, abruptly set off against the brown heart-wood which is very durable and easy to work; it shrinks, tears, and warps very little and the timber is used for housebuilding in the Malay Peninsula, and in Sumatra also for bridges. Beams are said to be very durable but can seldom be obtained in quantity. The fresh wood sinks in water. In Trengganu, according to Holttum, the leaves are pounded and applied on the forehead of women after miscarriage. In Bunguran leaves are reported to be used in sajur (vegetable soup).