e-Flora of Thailand

Volume 8 > Part 2 > Year 2007 > Page 450 > Euphorbiaceae > Microdesmis

Microdesmis caseariifolia Planch.wfo-0000243094

Hooker’s Icon. Pl. t. 758. 1848, in adnot.; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 380. 1887; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 362. 1972; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 119. 1973. Fig. 45.


Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.



Synonyms & Citations :

Microdesmis philippinensis Elmer, Leaflets Philipp. Bot. 4: 10. 1911.


Description : Shrub or small tree, up to 10 m high; twigs puberulous when young. Leaves: petiole 3–10 mm long, pubescent; blade elliptic, oblong or slightly ovate-oblong, 4–15 by 1.5–5 cm, length/width ratio 1.7–3, base cuneate, slightly asymmetric, margin serrate, at least the upper half, apex long acuminate to caudate, up to 1.5 cm long, almost glabrous on both surfaces except for the puberulous midrib beneath; nerves in 4–7(–10) pairs, strongly curved, arching and looping near margin, venation distinct on both sides, veins scalariform-reticulate, midrib slightly sunken to raised above, prominent beneath. Inflorescences with up to 25 flowers when staminate and few-flowered when pistillate. Flowers white to yellowish. Staminate flowers: pedicel 1–5 mm long; sepals ovate, ca 1 mm long, pubescent; petals 0.6–1 mm long, apically round, pilose outside, yellowish; stamens 10, outer 5 longer; filaments ca 0.5 mm long, sparsely hairy; anthers ca 0.3 mm long; connective shortly, acutely elongated. Pistillate flowers: pedicel shorter and stouter than in staminate flowers; sepals ovate, ca 1 mm long, pubescent; petals elliptic, 1.5–2 m long, pubescent; ovary ovoid, ca 1 by 0.7 mm, glabrous. Fruits 4–7 by 5–8 mm, greenish to white turning orangish-yellow. Seeds 2 (or 3).


Thailand : NORTHERN: Nakhon Sawan; NORTH-EASTERN: Udon Thani, Nong Khai; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima (Khao Yai); SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthai Thani, Prachuap Khirikhan; CENTRAL: Saraburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chachoengsao, Chon Buri (Si Racha), Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat.


Distribution : From S China, Burma and Indochina to Malay Peninsula (type), Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines.


Ecology : Common in evergreen forests, especially along streams, up to 400 m alt. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.


Vernacular : Chan chamot (จันชะมด)(Chanthaburi); salot pa (สลอดป่า)(Trat); tana tua mia (ตานาตัวเมีย), lamduan dong (ลำดวนดง)(Phuket); mueai (เมือย)(Trang).


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