Biology:Willughbeia angustifolia

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Willughbeia angustifolia
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Willughbeia
Species:
W. angustifolia
Binomial name
Willughbeia angustifolia
(Miq.) Markgr.
Synonyms
  • Ancylocladus rufescens (Dyer ex Hook.f.) Kuntze
  • Chilocarpus brachyanthus Pierre
  • Urnularia rufescens (Dyer ex Hook.f.) Pichon
  • Vahea angustifolia Miq.
  • Willughbeia angustifolia var. gracilior Markgr.
  • Willughbeia apiculata Miq.
  • Willughbeia elmeri Merr.
  • Willughbeia rufescens Dyer ex Hook.f.
  • Willughbeiopsis rufescens (Dyer ex Hook.f.) Rauschert

Willughbeia angustifolia is a species of flowering plant, a woody monoecious vine in the dogbane family, that is native to Southeast Asia.[1]

Name

Local vernacular names include gerit-gerit, gitaan, serapit and akar kubal madu.[1]

Description

The vine grows up to 60 m in height into the canopies of forest trees. The oval leaves are smooth, 2.6–20.5 cm long by 0.9–7 cm wide. The axillary inflorescences comprise short cymes of small white flowers. The fruits are round, yellow to orange berries 3–14 cm in diameter, with a latex-filled epicarp, containing small seeds embedded in a sweet orange sarcotesta.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the Nicobar Islands, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and the Maluku Islands, where it is found in lowland and hill mixed dipterocarp forest up to an elevation of 500 m.[1]

Usage

The edible fruits are valued for their flavour, reminiscent of strawberries and raspberries, and are often sold in local markets.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lamb, Anthony (2019). A guide to wild fruits of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo). p. 60. ISBN 978-983-812-191-0. 

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