Daphniphyllum laurinum (Benth.)
Baill., Etud., Gen. Euph. (1858)
Latin for 'similar to Laurus', a genus in the Lauraceae.
Synonyms
Daphniphyllum bancanum Kurz, Goughia laurina Benth.
Description
Sub-canopy trees up to 21 m tall and 30 cm dbh. Leaves alternate, simple,
penni-veined, with long petioles. Flowers ca. 2.5 mm in diameter,
greenish-yellow, placed in racemes. Fruits ca. 10 mm long,
blue-purple-black, fleshy drupes.
Ecology
Mostly in disturbed or open sites in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests
and in secondary forests up to 1700 m altitude. Also found in keranga forest.
Usually on hillsides and ridges on sandy to rocky soils and on limestone.
Uses
A decoction of the roots is used as a medicine against diarrhea and thrush.
Distribution
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, South-
and East-Kalimantan).
Local names in Borneo
Petic.
