Flora of Thailand

Euphorbiaceae

 

16. Breynia

 

P.C. van Welzen & H.-J. Esser

 

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Genus description

Identification key

Species descriptions

 

Breynia

 

J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl.: 145. 1776, nom. cons.; Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 438. 1866; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 224. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973; G.L. Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 46. 1994; Chakrab. & Gangop., J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 501. 1996; Welzen, Thai For. Bull. 28: 55, Fig. 1. 2000; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 74. 2000; Radcl.-Sm., Gen. Euph.: 46. 2001; Welzen & Esser in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 132. 2005.— Melanthesa Blume, Bijdr.: 590. 1826.— Melanthesopsis Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 74. 1863; in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 436. 1866.

 

Shrubs to trees, monoecious, latex absent. Indumentum of simple hairs or absent. Stipules triangular, early to late caducous. Leaves distichous, simple, symmetric, basally attached, margin entire, without glands, drying blackish above, dirty brownish and often glaucous-papillate beneath; venation pinnate, nerves seemingly looped and closed near margin, veins reticulate. Inflorescences axillary fascicles of single to several flowers, pistillate at the top of branches, staminate at lower nodes, the latter often in short bracteate racemes with a few flowers apically. Flowers actinomorphic, pedicellate; calyx urceolate, 6-lobed; petals, disc, and pistillode absent. Staminate flowers: calyx thin to very thick, apically hardly lobed with internal scale at lobe insertion; stamens 3, united into central vertical androphore with bi-loculate anthers longitudinally along it. Pistillate flowers: calyx persistent, lobes apically mucronate; ovary bell-shaped, 3-locular, apically emarginate, outer margin lobed, inside with 3 simple or split stigmas; ovules 2 per locule. Fruits rhegmas, ovoid, smooth, glabrous but sometimes papillate at apex, woody, sometimes slighlty fleshy outside, red. Seeds sharply trigonous, smooth, with yellow to reddish sarcotesta.

    Circa 30 species from India to China to New Caledonia and Australia; 7 in Thailand. Classification: Subfam. Phyllanthoideae, tribe Phyllantheae, subtribe Flueggeinae.

    N o t e.--- Breynia disticha J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. forma nivosa (Bull) Croizat ex Radcl.-Sm. [= Breynia nivosa (Bull) Small], the ‘snow bush’, is an ornamental shrub in many tropical regions. It has membranous, apically rounded and green-white-red variegated leaves. Although not yet recorded for Thailand, it might be found here.

 

Key to the species

 

1a.

Plants tomentose.

3. B. discigera

1b.

Plants glabrous.

2

2a.

Calyx of pistillate flowers membranous, distinctly enlarging in fruit, then 6—17 mm in diameter and larger than the fruit. Leaves oblong-elliptic, papery, rather small, 0.6—2 cm wide, apex rounded to rarely acute. Stigmas usually united into a style. 

6. B. retusa

2b.

Calyx of pistillate flowers chartaceous to coriaceous, slightly to distinctly enlarging in fruit, then 2—10 mm in diameter and smaller to larger than the fruit. Leaves ovate to elliptic, papery to coriaceous, usually larger, 0.9—4 cm wide, apex acute to acuminate. Stigmas separate, not united.

3

3a.

Calyx of pistillate flowers distinctly enlarging in fruit, becoming 5.5—8 mm in diameter and larger than the fruit. Stigmas 1.1—1.3(—2 in fruit) mm long, usually slightly to distinctly divided at the apex. Pistillate flowers and fruits usually in groups. Leaves distinctly acute to acuminate at apex.

4

3b.

Calyx of pistillate flowers slightly enlarging in fruit, becoming up to 5 mm in diameter and smaller than the fruit. Stigmas 0.2—0.3 mm long, undivided. Pistillate flowers and fruits solitary. Leaves acute at apex.

5

4a.

Stigmas divided for at least half their length (c. 0.5 mm) in flowers, recurved to horizontally spreading.

4. B. fruticosa

4b.

Stigmas divided for much less than half their length in flowers (to 0.2 mm), erect to slightly recurved.

5. B. glauca

5a.

Leaves chartaceous to coriaceous, margin recurved, distinctly glaucous beneath with veinlets invisible. Ovary obconical. Fruits with a thin fleshy outer part, drying blackish-brown.

8. B. racemosa

5b.

Leaves membranous to chartaceous, margin flat, slightly glaucous beneath with veinlets distinctly visible. Ovary cylindrical. Fruits without a fleshy outer part, drying reddish-brown.

6

6a.

Calyx in fruit c. (4—)5 mm in diam., nearly as wide as the fruit. Fruits apically with a crown.

2. B. coronata

6b.

Calyx in fruit 2—3(—4) mm in diam., distinctly smaller than the fruit. Fruits apically smooth, without a crown.

7. B. vitis-idaea

 

1. Breynia carnosa Welzen & Pruesapan

       

 

2. Breynia coronata Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 330. 1887; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 3: 218. 1924; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973; Welzen & Esser in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 134, fig. 29e, plate VI: 1. 2005.

 

    Breycoro-fruit.gif (16905 bytes)

 

Shrubs to 1.5 m (outside of Thailand to 5 m tall), glabrous. Stipules 1.5—2.5 by c. 1 mm. Leaves: petiole 2—3 mm long; blade ovate-elliptic, 3.5—8 by 2—4 cm, length/width ratio 1.9—2.4, membranous, base obtuse, apex acute, dark green above, pale green and slightly glaucous when dry beneath; nerves 6—9 until the apex, slightly glaucous beneat with veinlets distinct. Staminate flowers with pedicel up to 4—6 mm long. Pistillate flowers solitary, with pedicel c. 2.5 mm long; calyx c. 2 mm long; stigmas 0.2—0.3 mm long, not united, simple, pointing towards each other. Fruits solitary; pedicel (2—)3—5 mm long; calyx chartaceous, slightly accrescent, c. 5 mm in diameter, nearly as wide as the fruit, flat and with very shallow lobes less than 0.5 mm long, outside glaucous or not; rhegma c. 4.5 by 5.5 mm, with a distinct apical crown, turning red and later black, drying shiny brown. Seeds not seen.

    T h a i l a n d.— PENINSULAR: Yala (Betong).

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— S. Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia (type), Sumatra, Borneo.

    E c o l o g y.— Tropical rainforest (outside of Thailand known from open bamboo forest, clearings, streamsides and rocky places); granite bedrock. Alt.: 150 m (outside of Thailand to 1200 m).

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Kang pla (ก้างปลา) (Yala).

    N o t e.— Without fruits sometimes difficult to distinguish from B. vitis-idaea. The fruits are however sufficiently distinct.

 

3. Breynia discigera Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 440. 1866; Hook.f., Fl. Br. India 5: 331. 1887; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 225. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 75. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 134. 2005.— Melanthesa racemosa Blume var. pubescens Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 73. 1863.— Melanthesa rhamnoides Blume var. pubescens Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 74. 1863.— Breynia rhamnoides (Blume) Mόll.Arg. var. pubescens (Mόll.Arg.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 441. 1866.

 

Shrubs to treelets up to 3 m high, tomentose all over, often straggling to climbing, root often creeping. Stipules 1—2 by 0.6—0.9 mm. Leaves: petiole 1—3 mm long; blade ovate to elliptic, 1.3—3.8(—5) by 0.8—2.5 cm, length/width ratio 1.6—1.9, chartaceous, base obtuse to acute, margin recurved, apex acute, dark green above, very light pale green and distinctly glaucous when dry beneath; nerves 5—7 until the apex, veinlets slightly visible beneath. Staminate flowers c. 1.5 mm diameter; pedicel 0.5—3 mm long; calyx dull pinkish whitish, c. 1.7 by 1.5 mm, very thick; androphore c. 1 mm high, anthers c. 0.8 mm long. Pistillate flowers solitary; pedicel 0.5—1.5 mm long; calyx c. 1.5—2 mm long, turning pinkish to red, lobes 1.5—2.2 mm wide, only hairy outside; ovary 0.9—1.2 by 1.2—1.3 mm diameter, initially tomentose allover; stigmas c. 0.2—0.3 mm long, not united, simple, pointing towards each other. Fruits solitary; pedicel 1.5—2.5 mm long; calyx 4—5 mm in diameter, with free lobes c. 0.7—1 mm long; rhegma, 5—6 by 5.5—6.5 mm, with small apical crown, turning pinkish to red, drying shiny brown. Seeds c. 4 by 2 by 2 mm, orangish.

    T h a i l a n d.— PENINSULAR: Chumphon (Langsuan, Paknam), Surat Thani (Chaiya, Kanchanadit, Surat Thani), Nakhon Si Thammarat (Sichon), Trang (Khao Chong, Kao Soi Dao), Satun (Thon Pliao), Songkhla (Hat Yai, Khao Chumsuk, Ko Hong Hill, Na Thawi, Thepa).

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— S. Thailand, Malay Peninsula (Singapore, type), Sumatra.

    E c o l o g y.— Thickets, clearings and secondary forest, in rubber plantations; soil: sandy, alluvium. Alt.: 0-300 m, in Malesia to 1250 m.

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Kraduk kai dum (กระำดูกไก่ดุม) (Peninsular).

 

4. Breynia fruticosa (L.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 237. 1866; Hook.f., Fl. Br. India 5: 331. 1887, in obs., usually cited as author; Beille in M.H.Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 632. 1927; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 225. 1972; P.T.Li, Fl. Reipubl. Pop. Sin. 44(1): 181, pl. 55 fig. 1-6. 1994; Chakrab. & Gangopad., J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 503, fig. 1. 1996, pro parte excl. Burmese specimen; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 75. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 136. 2005.— Andrachne fruticosa L., Sp. Pl.: 1014. 1753.— Phyllanthus lucens Poir., Encycl. Mιth. Bot. 5: 296. 1804.— Melanthesa chinensis Blume, Bijdr.: 592. 1825.— Phyllanthus turbinatus Sims, Bot. Mag. 44: t. 1862. 1826.—  Melanthesa? glaucescens Miq., J. Bot. Nιerl. 1: 97. 1861.— Melanthesopsis lucens (Poir.) Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 75. 1863.— Melanthesopsis fruticosa (L.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 437. 1866, tantum quoad synon.

 

Shrubs up to 3.5 m high, glabrous. Stipules 1.2—2.2 by 0.8—1.2 mm. Leaves: petiole 2—4 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate, 2.2—7.7 by 1.5—3.5 cm, length/width ratio 1.7—2.7, coriaceous, base broadly obtuse to acute, symmetric, margin often recurved, apex acute to acuminate; nerves 6—8 until apex, distinctly glaucous beneath with veinlets indistinct. Staminate flowers 2.6—3 mm diameter; pedicel 2—4.4 mm long; calyx yellowish to orangish, 2.6—3.2 by 2.6—3 mm, relatively thick, straight; androphore 2—2.2 mm high, anthers 1.2—1.4 mm long. Pistillate flowers 1—4 per axil; 3—4.1(—11 in fruit) mm diameter; pedicel 3—3.5 mm long; calyx 2.2—3.7 mm long, greenish, glaucous outside or not, lobes 1.3—2.4 mm wide, overlapping; ovary cylindrical, 1.2—1.7 by 0.9—1 mm diameter; stigmas 1—1.2(—2 in fruit) mm long, not united, apically split for at least 0.5 mm, reflexed and often spreading horizontally. Fruits solitary or more often in groups; pedicel 3—5 mm long; calyx chartaceous to coriaceous, 5.5—8 mm in diameter, with free lobes 1—1.5 mm long; rhegma 5—5.5 by 6.5—8 mm, yellowish to orange, without an apical crown. Seeds 4.6—5 by c. 3 by 3 mm, red.

    T h a i l a n d.— NORTH-EASTERN: Sakon Nakhon (Phu Phan National Park), Mukdahan (Don Tan), Kalasin (Somdet), Maha Sarakham (Kosum Pisai); EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima (Bua Yai, Huai Thalaeng), Buri Ram (Buri Ram), Surin (Surin), Roi Et (Kasetwisai, Suwannaphum), Amnat Charoen (Banpong Charoen, Khemarat), Si Sa Ket (Kanthararom, Uthom Phon Phisai), Ubon Ratchathani (Ban Bahai, Phu Chong Nayoi); CENTRAL: Lopburi (Supcham Pa Hill); SOUTH-EASTERN: Sa Kaeo (Aranyaprathet, Khao Ang Rue Nai).

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— China (type), Indochina, and Thailand.

    E c o l o g y.— Dry Dipterocarp forest, secondary forests, deciduous and evergreen scrubs and roadsides, evergreen savanna margins, open rocky places; soil: sandstone bedrock. Alt.: 100-1000 m.

    V e r n a c ul a r.— Khon ma (ขนหมา) (Eastern).

    U s e s.— The young shoots are edible.

 

5. Breynia glauca Craib, Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew: 460. 1911; Aberdeen Univ. Stud. 57: 187. 1912; Beille in M.H.Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 633. 1927; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 226. 1972; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 76. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 136, fig. 30, plate VII: 3. 2005.

                Breyglau-habit.gif (41547 bytes)    Breyglau-male.gif (30904 bytes)    Breyglau-female.gif (15101 bytes)    Breyglau-fruit.gif (17563 bytes)

 

Shrub to treelet up to 5 m high, much branched, sometimes struggling, glabrous. Stipules 1.6—2.5 by 0.8—1.2 mm. Leaves: petiole 2—4 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate, 3.3—7.5 by 1.5—4.3 cm, length/width ratio 1.5—2.7, coriaceous, base obtuse to acute, symmetric, margin often recurved, apex acute to acuminate; nerves 6—8 until apex, distinctly glaucous beneath with veinlets indistict. Staminate flowers 2.6—3 mm diameter; pedicel c. 3 mm long; calyx green to orange, 2.2—2.5 by 2.6—3 mm, relatively thin, straight; androphore 1.8—2.3 mm high, anthers 1.2-1.5 mm long. Pistillate flowers 1—4 per axil, 2.2—8 mm diameter; pedicel 1.2—2.5 mm long; calyx 2—3 mm long but soon accrescent, green to yellow, glaucous outside or not, lobes 1—3.2 mm wide, overlapping; ovary fusiform, 1.6—2 by 0.9—1 mm diameter; stigmas 1.1—1.3(—2 in fruit) mm long, not united, apically split for 0.1—0.2 mm or simple, erect to slightly reflexed but never spreading horizontally. Fruits solitary or in groups; pedicel 2.5—6 mm long; calyx chartaceous to coriaceous, 6.5—8 mm in diameter, with free lobes 1—1.5 mm long, rhegma c. 5 by 6—7 mm, turning yellow to red, drying shiny blackish-brown, without an apical crown. Seeds 3.7—4.2 by 2—2.2 by 1.7—2 mm, red.

    T h a i l a n d.— NORTHERN: Chiang Mai (type: Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, KERR 864, BM, K, iso), Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun, Loei, Udon Thani, Khon Khaen; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum; SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Surat Thani.

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— Myanmar, Laos, Thailand , Borneo (Sabah, Anambas Islands).

    E c o l o g y.— Dry deciduous Dipterocarp-oak forest, dry evergreen forest, oak-pine forest, coastal sand dune forest, gallery forest, hill evergreen forest, transition with Melaleuca swamp forest, secondary thickets and forest, roadsides; soil: granitic, shale or sandstone bedrock, sandy, even on poor or bare soil. Alt.: sea level to 1300 m.

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Cha sisiat (จ้าสีเสียด) (Lamphun); dap phit (ดับพิษ), phak wan dang (ผักหวานด่าง) (Mae Hong Son); ra ngap phit (ระำงับพิษ) (Chiang Mai); prik (ปริก) (Prachuap Khiri Khan).

    N o t e.— Airy Shaw (1972) mentioned that B. glauca is the western vicariant (Myanmar, Thailand, and W. Laos) of the more eastern and north-eastern B. fruticosa (China, Indochina, Thailand). This could be confirmed. Both species do not seem to overlap in their range. The styles consitute the main difference, and they are hardly distinguishable otherwise.

 

6. Breynia lithophila Welzen & Pruesapan

                           

 

7. Breynia racemosa (Blume) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 441. 1866; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 4: 62. 1975; Chakrab. & Gangopad., J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 505, fig. 2. 1996; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 76. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 138. 2005.— Melanthesa racemosa Blume, Bijdr.: 592. 1825.— Phyllanthus reclinatus Roxb., [Hort. Beng.: 69. 1814] Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 3: 669. 1832.—  Melanthesa rhamnoides Blume var. hypoglauca Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 73. 1863.— Melanthesa reclinata (Roxb.) Mόll.Arg., Linnaea 32: 74. 1863.— Breynia rhamnoides (Blume) Mόll.Arg. var. hypoleuca (Mόll.Arg.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 440. 1866.— Breynia racemosa (Blume) Mόll. Arg. var. genuina Mόll. Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 441. 1866, nom. inval.— Breynia reclinata (Roxb.) Hook.f., Fl. Br. India 3: 331. 1887; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 226. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973.

 

Shrubs up to 3 m tall, often straggling to climbing, glabrous. Stipules 1.3—2 by 0.5—1 mm. Leaves: petiole 1.5—3 mm long; blade ovate(-elliptic), 1.9—3.6 by 1.2—2 cm, length/width ratio 1.7—2.2, chartaceous to coriaceous, base obtuse to rounded, symmetric, margin recurved, apex acute, dark green above, pale green and distinctly glaucous when dry beneath; nerves 6 or 7 until the apex, veinlets not visible beneath. Staminate flowers with pedicel up to 3 mm long. Pistillate flowers solitary, 1.7—3.5 mm diameter; pedicel 0.5—1.8 mm long; calyx 1—1.8 mm long, lobes 0.7—1 mm wide; ovary obconical, c. 1.3 by 1.3 mm diameter; stigmas 0.15—0.25 mm long, not united, simple, pointing towards each other. Fruits solitary; pedicel 1.5—3 mm long; calyx chartaceous, 2.25—3.5 mm in diameter, with free lobes of 0.3—0.7 mm, usually glaucous outside; rhegma 4—5 by 4.5—6 mm, becoming red, with a thin fleshy outer part and drying blackish-brown, without an apical ring. Seeds c. 4 by 2.3 by 2.3 mm, orange.

    T h a i l a n d.— PENINSULAR: Ranong (Kapoe), Pattani (To Mo), Narathiwat (Kuchum, Sirinthon, Tamborn Lahan).

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— India (Nicobar Islands), S. Thailand, Malay Peninsula (incl. Singapore), Sumatra, Java (type), Borneo, Celebes.

    E c o l o g y.— In scrub, forest edges, open grassland, near beach forest; soil: sandy. Alt.: sea level up to 500 m.

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Kang pla (ก้างปลา), kang pla thuan (ก้างปลาทวน) (Peninsular).

 

6. Breynia repens Welzen & Pruesapan

   

 

7. Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Peradeniya) 11: 204. 1929; in Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 6, Suppl.: 261. 1931; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 227. 1972; P.T.Li, Fl. Reipubl. Pop. Sin. 44(1): 181, pl. 54 figs. 1, 4. 1994; Chakrab. & M.Gangop., J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 505, fig. 3. 1996; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 76. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 139, fig. 29a-d, plate IV: 2. 2005.— Phyllanthus retusus Dennst., Schlόss. Hort. Malab. 1. Register: 15; 2. Register: 24; 3. Register: 31. 1818.— Phyllanthus turbinatus J.G. Kφnig ex Roxb. [Hort. Bengal.: 104. 1814] Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 3: 666, Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 3: 666. 1832, nom. illeg.— Phyllanthus patens Roxb., Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 3: 667. 1832.—  Melanthesa retusa (Dennst.) Kostel., Allg. Med.-Pharm. Fl. 5: 1771. 1836.— Melanthesa turbinata (J.G. Kφnig ex Roxb.) Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 26. 1852, nom. illeg.—  Melanthesopsis variabilis Mόll. Arg., Linnaea 32: 75. 1863, nom. illeg.— Melanthesopsis patens (Roxb.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 437. 1866.— Breynia patens (Roxb.) Rolfe, J. Bot. 11: 859. 1882.— Breynia angustifolia Hook.f., Fl. Br. India 5: 330. 1887; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 225. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973.— Breynia hyposauropus Croizat, J. Arnold Arb. 21: 493. 1940.— Breynia microphylla (Kurz ex Teijsm. & Binn.) Mόll. Arg. var. angustifolia (Hook. f.) Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 36: 272. 1981.

 

                    Breyretu-male.gif (25141 bytes)    Breyretu-female.gif (42325 bytes)

 

Shrubs to treelets up to 5 m high, somewhat scandent, branches turning brown soon, glabrous. Stipules 1.2—2 by 0.6—0.7 mm. Leaves: petiole 0.6—2.5 mm long; blade oblong-elliptic, 1.2—3.6 by 0.6—2 cm, length/width ratio 1.8—2.5, membranous, base obtuse, asymmetric, margin flat, apex round to indistinctly acute, mucronulate, dark green above, very light pale green beneath; nerves 5—7 until apex, distinctly glaucous beneath with veinlets indistinct. Staminate flowers 1.8—3.4 mm diameter; pedicel 1.5—5 mm long; calyx pale green to orange, 3—5 by 1.8—3.4 mm, relatively thin, straight; androphore 1.1—1.6 mm high, anthers 0.8—1 mm long. Pistillate flowers solitary; pedicel 1.2—3 mm long; calyx initially 1.2—1.5 mm long, soon accrescent and 2.3—7.8 mm long, greenish to pinkish/pale red; ovary 0.5—1.2 by 0.8—1.2 mm diameter; style seldom absent, 0.2—0.8 mm long, stigmas 0.5—0.6 mm long, apically split for 0.2—0.3 mm, spreading. Fruits solitary; pedicel 2—6 mm long; calyx distinctly accrescent, 6—17 mm in diameter and larger than the fruit, membranous, with free lobes 1.5—3 mm long; rhegma 4.5—7 by 5—8 mm, turning orange to red to purple, drying reddish-brown, apically ± smooth or with a shallow crown. Seeds 3.6—4 by 2.2—2.8 by 2.2—2.8 mm, yellow to red.

    T h a i l a n d.— NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Tak, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei, Nong Khai; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket; SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; CENTRAL: Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla.

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— India (type), Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, S.W.China, Thailand, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia.

    E c o l o g y.— In oak-pine forest, dry Dipterocarp forest, secondary thickets and forest, also seasonally burned, tea and pine plantations, degraded dry to wet and bamboo-rich evergreen forest, seasonal mixed evergreen/deciduous forest, on rocky places and slopes, along rivers; soil: alluvial, sandy, on shale, phyllite, limestone, granite or sandstone bedrock. Alt.: 100-1360 m.

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Khram-nam (ครามน้ำ) (Shan-Mae Hong Son); khao chan (ขาวจัน), na-kho-thi (นะฆอที) (Karen-Mae Hong Son); phong (พอง), ra ngap (ระำงับ) (Southeastern); kang pla khao (ก้างปลาขาว) (Peninsular).

    N o t e.— Breynia angustifolia and B. retusa are certainly synonymous. Airy Shaw (1972) recognised both species, because there is indeed some variation within Thailand. In Chiang Mai, the fruits are slightly smaller and the calyx somewhat more enlarging than elsewhere. There are however no names available to describe this variability.

 

8. Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm.f.) C.E.C.Fisch., Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew: 65. 1932; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 227. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 73. 1973; Chakrab. & Gangopad., J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 20: 509, fig. 4. 1996; Welzen & Esser in Welzen et al., Thai For. Bull. 28: 77. 2000; in Chayamarit & Welzen, Fl. Thailand 8, 1: 140. 2005.— Rhamnus vitis-idaea Burm.f., Fl. Ind.: 61. 1768, pro parte quoad lectotypus.— Phyllanthus rahmnoides Retz., Observ. Bot. 5: 30. 1788, nom. illeg.;Willd., Sp. Pl. 4: 580. 1805.— Melanthesa rhamnoides auct.: Miq., Flor. Ind. Bat. 1(2): 370. 1859; Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 26, t. 1898 (1). 1852 (non Blume).— Breynia rhamnoides (Willd.) Mόll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 440. 1866, nom. illeg.—  Breynia rhamnoides (Willd.) Mόll. Arg. var. genuina Mόll. Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 440. 1866, nom. inval.— Breynia keithii Ridl., J. Str. Br. Roy. As. Soc. 59: 174. 1911.— Breynia microcalyx Ridl., J. Fed. Mal. States Mus. 10: 114. 1920.

 

Shrubs to treelets up to 5 m high, sometimes struggling to climbing, glabrous. Stipules 0.5—2 by 0.6—0.8 mm. Leaves: petiole 2—3 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate, 2—5.5 by 0.9—3 cm, length/width ratio 1.6—2.2, membranous, base obtuse, symmetric, margin flat, apex acute to nearly obtuse; nerves 6 or 7 until apex, slightly glaucous beneath with veinlets distinct. Staminate flowers 1.3—1.8 mm diameter; pedicel 2.5—4 mm long; calyx greenish, 1.5—2 by 1.3—1.8 mm, relatively thin; androphore 1—1.1 mm high, anthers 0.8—0.9 mm long. Pistillate flowers: pedicel 2.5—4 mm long; calyx 1.3—2.8 mm long, greenish to red, lobes 0.4—2.2 mm wide; ovary cylindrical, 1.8—2.2 by 0.8—1.3 mm diam; stigmas c. 0.2 mm long, not united, simple, pointing towards each other. Fruits solitary; pedicel 2.5—4 mm long; calyx chartaceous, 2—4 mm in diameter, with lobes 0.5—1 mm long, glaucous or not; rhegma 3.5—5 by 4.5—6 mm, turning pink to red and finally black—purple, drying shiny brown, without an apical crown but sometimes with a short beak. Seeds 3—4.5 by 1.8—2.5 by 1.7—2.5 mm, yellow-brown.

    T h a i l a n d.— NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Lamphun; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani; CENTRAL: Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Krung Thep Maha Khon; SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla.

    D i s t r i b u t i o n.— India (type), Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia.

    E c o l o g y.— Dry evergreen forest, savannahs, Melaleuca swamp forest, bamboo thickets, clearings, waste ground, along roads, rivers, beaches, railway embankments, forest edges; usually scattered; soil: sandy podsol, termite mounds. Altitude: sea level up to 800 m.

    V e r n a c u l a r.— Dap phit (ดับพิษ), phia fan (เพี้ยฟาน) (Northern); kang pla thale (ก้างปลาทะเล) (Narathiwat); phak wan tua phu (ผักหวานตัวผู้) (Central).

    U s e s.— Leaves are used fresh or mashed topically against 'Fii' in the North. The roots are used as a fish poison.