Mallotus plicatus

Mallotus plicatus is a tree or shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family, in the Polyadenii section.[2] It occurs in much of Mainland Southeast Asia. It is used for dyeing and in construction.

Mallotus plicatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Mallotus
Species:
M. plicatus
Binomial name
Mallotus plicatus
Synonyms[1]
  • Coccoceras anisopodum Gagnep.
  • Coccoceras plicatum Müll.Arg.
  • Hymenocardia plicata (Müll.Arg.) Kurz
  • Mallotus anisopodus (Gagnep.) Airy Shaw
  • Mallotus eriocarpoides Müll.Arg.

Description, habitat

A tree or shrub, growing from 5 to 15m tall.[3] The twigs can be flattened or round at nodes.[2] The leaves are alternate with the majority pseudo-opposite, terminally grouped, not peltate and in the leaf pairs are unequal but the same shape, the reduced leaves have petioles. Leaves are more than twice as long as they are wide. The base of the leaves can be oblique or not, triple-veined/palmate and flat. The leaves are odourless. Dried leaves are brownish. Glands are clavately shaped. The leaf margin is dentate to serrate, and has glands. The leaf apex is acute. Upper surface of the leaf is glabrous, basally has more than 2 macular glands. Indument simple and stellate, on the petioles the induments are short (<1mm) and dense. The ovate stipules are early caducous, not interpetiolar, with a length less than 4 times the width and a margin with short hairs less than 1mm. The petioles lack an adaxial groove and glands, are 1–5 cm in length, are apically pulvinate, when dried the petioles are basally not constricted. The fruit are smooth, indehiscent, 3-locular, with winged carpels, seeds are caducous, brownish with a smooth coat.

Habitat

The tree occurs commonly in evergreen and mixed deciduous forests and forest edges, and on river banks.[4] It grows at altitude from 40 to 150m. Flowering occurs from May to September, while fruit occurs from May to July. In Cambodia the species is described occurring in secondary formations and particularly abundant along river and in flooded forests of the Tonlé Sap region of Cambodia.[3]

Distribution

The species occurs in the following countries of Mainland Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.[1] There is some doubt of its presence in Peninsular Malaysia.

Vernacular names

In Khmer the plant is variously known as chumpu:, chrolu:ëk préi, chhkaèng or chrâkaéng tûëy.[3]

Uses

The bark of Mallotus plicatus is used to obtain a dye, while the wood is valued as a construction timber.[3] The bark contains compounds that shows some inhibitory activity against Herpes simplex.[5]

History

Herbert Kenneth Airy Shaw (1902–85), an English botanist, described the species in 1962, in the Kew Bulletin.[6]

Further reading

Additional information can be found in the following:[1]

  • Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) 1-4: 1–1622. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • van Welzen, P.C. & Chayamarit, K. (2007). Flora of Thailand 8(2): 305–592. The Forest Herbarium, National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok.

References
  1. "Mallotus plicatus (Müll.Arg.) Airy Shaw". Plants of the World Online (POWO). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. Slik, J. W. Ferry; Van Welzen, Peter C. (2001). "A Phylogeny of Mallotus (Euphorbiaceae) Based on Morphology: Indications for a Pioneer Origin of Macaranga". Systematic Botany. 26 (4): 786–796. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. pp. 14, 15.
  4. BOLLENDORFF, S.M.; VAN WELZEN, P.C.; SLIK, J.W.F. (2000). "A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF MALLOTUS SECTION POLYADENII (EUPHORBIACEAE)". BLUMEA. 45: 319–40. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.706.88. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. Luangruangrong, Kongsin; Sritularak, Boonchoo; Lipipun, Vimolmas; Likhitwitayawuid, Kittisak (2014). "New Gallic Acid Glycosides from Mallotus plicatus". Heterocycles. 89 (5): 1237–1244. doi:10.3987/COM-14-12969. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. "Mallotus plicatus (Müll.Arg.) Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 16(3): 352 (1963)". International Plant Name Index (IPNI). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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