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Chloranthus officinalis Blume
| Family Name: | Chloranthaceae |
| Synonyms: | Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. |
| Common Name: | Sambau Paya, Lowland Chloranthus, Rami Hutan, Sembau, Sigueh Puteh, 鱼子兰 |
Chloranthus officinalis, also known as Sambau Paya, is a small shrub which is critically endangered in Singapore. Sambau Paya was popularly used as tea in Indonesia before Camellia sinensis gained prominence as the ‘tea plant’ in the 19th century. Its flowers are used in China to impart a subtle smoky sandalwood aroma to tea leaves along with a sweet and refreshing aftertaste to create a distinctive scented tea.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From continental Asia, throughout Malesia region to New Guinea (including Singapore) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a somewhat woody herb, or small shrub up to 3 m tall, with distinctly swollen joints of the stem. The plant parts are aromatic when crushed. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves possess rigidly papery leaf blades that are usually oval, 7.6–29 by 2.5–13 cm, and pointed at both ends, and whose margins are shallowly saw-toothed. |
| Flowers | Each flowering shoot is spreading, curving upwards, 2.5–5 cm long, and bears stalkless, pale yellowish-white flowers in opposite pairs along the shoot axis. The shoots are found in clusters of 5–13 at the tip of a main stalk. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are nearly round berries up to 7 mm wide, and ripen from green to glossy white. Each contains one hard, yellowish-white seed embedded in fleshy pulp. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland primary and secondary forests, sometimes by streams, in swampy places, or on limestone. It occurs locally in Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forest. |
| Associated Fauna | Its fruits are dispersed by birds. |
| Cultivation | The shrub has fragrant flowers and leaves, and easily pruned into shape. It may be suitable for shady, cool and damp areas in gardens, or parks. It can be propagated by seeds, or stem cuttings. |
| Etymology | The genus Chloranthus is Latin for green flowers, while the specific epithet officinalis is Latin for related to a pharmacy, referring to its use as a medicinal plant. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In Indonesia, the leaves are boiled and drank as tea to treat high fever, abdominal pain or wound infections. <1>
It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are currently not supported or verified by scientific research. Others: In Indonesia, the local community utilizes the leaves as ingredient in beverages due to the pleasant aroma when crushed. <1> In China, the species is grown in the tea plantation where the flowers and leaves are added to infuse drying tea leaves with a characteristic, pleasant fragrance and flavour. <2> |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting Plant |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | Yellowish White |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green, White |
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References
| References | <1> M. Sazali et al. (2026). Bioactive compounds of Chloranthus officinalis are successfully characterised as potential dengue antivirals. Jurnal Biolokus: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Biologi dan Biologi. Vol. 9(1):75-88. <2> Sangat, M.H. (2000). Chloranthus erectus (Buch.-Ham.) Verdc.. In: van der Vossen, H.A.M. and Wessel, M. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 16: Stimulants. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31052 |
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| Species ID | 5439 |
| 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. |