Volume 8 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 121 > Euphorbiaceae > Baliospermum

2. Baliospermum solanifolium (Burm.) Sureshwfo-0000314537

Regnum Veg. 119: 106. 1988.— Croton solanifolius Burm., Fl. Malab. 6. 1769. Fig. 25.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub, up to 2 m high, monoecious (rarely dioecious). Leaves: petiole 2–13 cm long; blade usually ovate to oblong, 8–21 by 3–10 cm, chartaceous, base usually rounded, rarely cuneate, margin serrate or crenate, frequently deeply 3–5-lobed, apex obtuse or acute, glabrous or strigose on both surfaces venation basally 3–5-nerved, nerves in 6–8 pairs along the midrib. Inflorescences glabrous to pubescent. Staminate inflorescences 1–8(–16) cm long. Pistillate inflorescences 0.1–1 cm long. Staminate flowers 2–3 mm in diam.; pedicel 2–12 mm long; sepals orbicular to ovate, ca 1.5 by 1 mm; disc annular, cup-shaped, 1–1.5 mm in diam.; stamens 10–12, filaments 0.5–1 mm long; anther oblong, ca 0.5 by 0.2 mm. Pistillate flowers 2–4 mm in diam.; pedicels 0.2–1 cm long; sepals 5, ovate or triangular, 1–2 by 0.8–1 mm, pubescent outside; ovary subglobose, 1–3 mm in diam., pubescent; style stout, 1.5–3 mm long. Fruits pendulous, subglobose, 0.8–1.3 in diam., calyx persistent, accrescent to (3–)5 by 2(–3) cm. Seeds ovoid, ca 3.5 by 3 mm, brown.

Thailand : Throughout the country.

Distribution : Pakistan, India (type), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malay Peninsular, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, Lesser Sunda Islands.

Ecology : In rather dry mixed deciduous to evergreen forests, occasionally with bamboo, or along forests margin common in open areas, sea level up to 900 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: December–March.

Vernacular : Tong taek (ตองแตก); pho-bo-cho (พอบอเจ๊าะ), tho-khlo (โทะโคละ)(Karen-Mae Hong Son); long pom (ลองป้อม)(Loei); thon di (ถ่อนดี)(Central); nong pom (น่องป้อม), thon di (ทนดี)(Trang).

Uses: The seeds are a drastic purgative, and used as a substitue for Croton tiglium L. Oil from the seeds and leaves is irritant when touching the skin.