Flora of Thailand
Euphorbiaceae
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P.C. van Welzen, K.N. Tyas, Evivyarni & F.J.M. Gaerlan
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Rchb.f. & Zoll., Acta Soc. Regiae Sci. Indo-Neerl. 1: 22. 1856; Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147.vii: 142. 1914; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 309. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Mal. 2: 118. 1973; G.L.Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 73. 1994; Welzen et al., Blumea 44: 438. 1999; Radcl.-Sm., Gen. Euphorbiacearum: 150. 2001; Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2: 444. 2007; G.L.Webster in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl. 11: 142. 2014.
Shrubs to trees, monoecious. Indumentum of simple and mainly stellate hairs. Stipules caducous. Leaves alternate, simple, broadly ovate, sometimes 3-lobed, papery, usually symmetric, base cordate to cuneate, with a group of extending glands on the upper surface, margin inconspicuously to very coarsely dentate, with many glands, lower surface often with 2 basal black glandular areas and additional ones along the veins; venation palmate with 5(7) major nerves, secondary nerves ending in marginal teeth, veins scalariform. Inflorescences terminal raceme-like panicles, laxly (1–3)-branched with either staminate (up to 5 per node) or pistillate (single or 2 per node) flowers. Flowers actinomorphic; sepals (4)5, valvate; petals absent. Staminate flowers: stamens 200–250, free, anthers with an epidorsal gland on the connective; disk and pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers: disc annular; ovary 2- or 3-locular, one ovule per locule, smooth. Fruits lobed, obcordate capsules, smooth, densely hairy outside, glabrous inside. Seeds covered by a thin, fleshy sarcotesta.
Two species, one restricted to Cambodia, the other widespread from Peninsular Thailand to Taiwan, the Ryukyu and Society Islands and throughout Malesia. Classification: Subfam. Acalyphoideae, tribe Chrozophoreae, subtribe Doryxylinae.
Melanolepis multiglandulosa (Reinw. ex Blume) Rchb.f. & Zoll., Acta Soc. Regiae Sci. Indo-Neerl. 1: 22. 1856; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 309. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Mal. 2: 118. 1973; Welzen et al., Blumea 44: 439, fig. 1, map 1; Welzen in Welzen & Chayam., Fl. Thailand 8, 2: 44, Fig. 42. 2007.— [Croton multiglandulosus Reinw. ex Blume, Cat.: 105. 1823, nom. nud.].— Rottlera multiglandulosa Reinw. ex Blume, Bijdr.: 609. 1825.— Ricinus dioicus Wall. ex Roxb., Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 3: 690. 1832.— Adelia monoica Blanco, Fl. Filipp. ed. 2: 561. 1845.— Mallotus multiglandulosus (Reinw. ex Blume) Hurus., J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, Sect. 3, Bot. 6: 308. 1954.
Shrubs to trees up to 20 m high. Stipules c. 1.2 by 0.8 mm. Leaves: petiole 2.4–31 cm long; blade ovate, 5–38 by 5–34 cm, index 1–1.1, dull light to dark green above, paler, whitish to almost glaucous, more glossy below, apex acute to acuminate, tip acute. Inflorescences up to 26(–54) cm long, side-branches up to 41 cm long. Staminate flowers 7–13 mm in diameter; pedicel 5–6 mm long; sepals c. 8 by 4 mm, pale grey to (yellowish) white; stamens cream-white to (pale) yellow, filaments 1.5–2.3 mm long, anthers 0.8–1 by 0.5–0.6 mm. Pistillate flowers 4.5–5.5 mm in diameter; pedicel 3–6(–13 in fruit) mm long; calyx (brownish) mid green to yellowish to white, tube c. 1 mm high, lobes 1.7–3 by 1.2–1.8 mm; ovary 2.5–3.8 by 3.3–4.2 mm wide. Fruits 9–15 by 7–9 mm, mid green to greenish brown to olive green to greyish green. Seeds 5.5–6 by 4.5–5.5 mm, creamy to purplish magenta; sarcotesta grey to orange.
T h a i l a n d.— PENINSULAR: Pattani (Banang Sta).
D i s t r i b u t i o n.— Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Marianas, from S Thailand throughout Malesia (type: Java) to Papua New Guinea (incl. Bismarck Archipelago).
E c o l o g y.— In secondary places like roadsides, regrowth thickets, depleted open secondary forest, forest edges in savannah, coconut plantations, old gardens, but also primary forest, (Barringtonia) swamp forest, Eucalyptus deglupta dominated forest, monsoon (deciduous) forest, along mangrove; rare to usually locally common; said to be an invader of cut forest; soil, often poorly drained and/or temporarily inundated: Andesit, alluvial sand, clay, volcanic soil, coral (sand), red loam. Altitude: sea level up to 300(–1335) m. The seeds are eaten by birds.
U s e s.— Japan (Ryukyu Islands): Wood is used for shoes. Borneo, Sabah: Bark used as a cure for cough. Philippines: Used against chest pain; leaves or flowers wrapped on the wrist to treat fever. Moluccas, Ceram: antidote to poison. Also suitable for firewood (Philippines, Papua New Guinea).