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Leea angulata Korth. ex Miq.

Family Name:	Vitaceae
Synonyms:	Leea horrida Teijsm. & Binn., Leea sambucina var. intermedia Ridl.
Common Name:	Memali, Thorny Tree-Vine, Mali Berduri, Mali-Mali, Toi

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Shrub

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular
Maximum Height	15 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Andaman Islands, Borneo, Christmas Islands, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Nicobar Islands, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Mountain, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Riverine, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a shrub or a tree that grows up to 15 m tall.
Trunk	The trunk and branches are armed with thick and sharp, triangular thorns.
Foliage	The leaves are alternately arranged, either bipinnate or tripinnate leaves of 15-60 cm long with many leaflets. The leaves have spiny flattened petioles (leaf stalks) of 3 - 6.5 cm long. The leaflets are elliptic to ovate, measuring 7 - 10 cm long and 5 cm wide, have papery, smooth surface with serrated margins (toothed leaf edges) and dry to brown. These leaflets have cuneate base and acuminate tip.

Stems	This species is often multi-stemmed.
Flowers	Its branched flowering shoots are up to 25 cm long, 5-10 cm wide with triangular hairy bracts, measuring 3 by 2 mm. The flowers are greenish white. The pedicel is about 2 - 2.2 mm long and hairy.
Fruit	Its greyish blue fruit are about 7 - 10 mm in diameter, containing up to six seeds. The seed is about 5 by 3 mm.
Habitat	It is found along river banks, in secondary vegetation, in sandy heath and riverine forests, at up to 1500 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by insects and butterflies. Fruit are eaten by birds.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed or stem cutting.
Etymology	The genus epithet Leea is named for James Lee (1715-1795), a Hammersmith nurseryman. The species epithet angulata means somewhat angled, likely referring to the angled prickles along the stem.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It is suitable for planting along streetscapes, parks and gardens, and also around edges of water as it tends to form prop roots in soft or wet soil.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Fruits, Ornamental Form
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Hedge / Screening, Riverine, Flowerbed / Border

Usage Hazard - Cons

Spines/Thorns - Trunk, Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Lots of Water, Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Transplanting Tolerance	Good
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Potential Problems	Trunk and branches are surrounded by triangular thorns.
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Papery
Foliar Type	Compound
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed, Dentate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Mature Bark Texture	Armed / Thorny
Stem Type & Modification	Thorn / Prickle

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Green, White
Flower Texture(s)	Smooth

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Stellate / Star-shaped

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Green - Bluish Green
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

References

References	<1> e-flora of Thailand. Leea angulata. Vol. 10(2):213. https://botany.dnp.go.th/eflora/floraSpecies.html?tdcode=04252

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Master ID	30061
Species ID	4370
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.