Barringtonia macrostachya
(Jack) Kurz, Rep. Pegu (1875)
Latin for 'large or long racemes'.
Synonyms
Barringtonia acuminata Korth., Barringtonia annamica Gagn.,
Barringtonia balabacensis Merr., Barringtonia conchinchinense (Blume)
Merr. ex Gagn., Barringtonia craibiana Knuth, Barrintonia
cylindrostachya Griff., Barringtonia fusicarpa Hu, Barringtonia
isabelaensis Knuth, Barringtonia molluccana Knuth, Barringtonia
olivacea Knuth, Barringtonia pendens Knuth, Barringtonia rosea
Wall. ex Knuth, Barringtonia wallichiana Knuth, Careya macrostachya Jack,
Doxomma acuminatum (Korth.) Miers, Doxomma cochinchinense (Blume)
Miers, Doxomma cylindrostachya (Griff.) Miers, Doxomma macrostachyum (Jack) Miers,
Michelia acuminata (Korth.) O.Kuntze, Michelia macrostachya (Jack) Kuntze,
Stravadium acuminatum (Korth.) Blume, Stravadium conchinchinense
Blume
Description
Understorey tree up to 20 m tall and 26 cm dbh. Stipules dropped early.
Leaves crowded at twig tips, alternate to whorled, simple, penni-veined,
glabrous, margin toothed. Flowers ca. 50 mm diameter, white-pink-red, placed on
long spikes, with long protruding anthers, flowering at night, corolla dropped
in the morning. Fruits ca. 65 mm long, green-pinkish, drupes.
Ecology
In undisturbed coastal, swamp, and mixed dipterocarp forests up to 700 m
altitude. Often on alluvial sites or near rivers, but also on hillsides and
ridges. On sandy to clay soils, also on limestone. Flowers at night to attract
bats and moths. Fruits are probably dispersed by small rodents. In secondary
forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.
Uses
Bark is locally used as fish poison. The leaves are used against stomach
aches. The pulped roots are used against ringworms and sore eyes.
Distribution
South China, Indo-China, Burma, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo (throughout the island), Philippines, Celebes, Moluccas.
Local names in Borneo
Karuk, Putat, Tampalang, Tempalang.
