Volume 2 > Part 2 > Year 1972 > Page 105 > Dilleniaceae > Tetracera

1. Tetracera scandens (L.) Merr.wfo-0001045865

Int. Rumph.: 365. 1917; Hoogland in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat. 4: 143. 1951; Reinwardtia 2: 190. f. 1(map). 1953.— Tragia scandens L. in Stickm., Herb. Amb.: 18. 1754.— Delima scandens (L.) Bruk., Dict. 1: 776. 1935.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Climbing or creeping woody vine. Branches strigose, glabrescent. Leaves oblong to obovate, mostly 6–15 by 3–7 cm, rounded to obtuse at apex, obtuse at base, scabrid on both sides. Petiole 6–12 mm. Inflorescences up to 40 by 20 cm, up to 200-flowered. Flowers 6–8 mm across, on 2–6 mm long pedicel. Sepals 4 (in about 5% of the flowers 5), ca 3 by 2mm. Petals 2, ca 4 by 3 mm whitish. Stamens 3 mm long. Carpels 1(–2), densely hairy, with ca 10 ovules. Follicles ovoid, ca 10 by 6 mm with 1–3 mm long beak, 1(–2)-seeded. Seeds ovoid, ca 4 by 3 mm with 2–3 mm long scarlet aril.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthaung, Songkhla, Narathiwat, Pattani.

Distribution : SE Asia, W and C Malesia (Amboina? – type).

Ecology : Scrub and evergreen or deciduous forests, up to 600 m alt. (in Yunnan up to 1,000 m).

Vernacular : Kapot (กะปด), pot khon (ปดขน), pot shwai (ปดควาย), pot luam (ปดเลื่อม)(Peninsular); sap-pa-la (สัปปละ)(Malay-Peninsular).

Uses: As medicine; leaves as sandpaper for polishing wood.