Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South Asia, Andaman Islands, Indochina, Thailand, southwest China, Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Lesser Sunda Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a climbing shrub or climber, up to 10 m tall, with tendrils arising from the leaf axils. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have membranous to firmly papery leaf blades that are variable in shape, 5–25 by 6–15 cm, and palmately 3–5-veined. |
| Flowers | Its flowering clusters are repeatedly forked, with its central axis divided into 2 branches. They are also up to 18 cm long and bear very small flowers with white petals. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are ellipsoid to drop-shaped, 1.5–2.5 by 0.8–1.2 cm, and crowned by a persistent calyx (a structure formed by the persistent sepals). The mature fruits split into 3–5, 1–seeded segments, to reveal the bright red inner surfaces and its indigo blue seeds. Its seeds are foul-smelling and broadly ellipsoid. |
| Habitat | It grows along forest edges or in primary and secondary rainforests, from the lowland and submontane regions. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Etymology | Greek erythros refers to reddish while Greek palin, refers to backside, with reference to the reddish, reflexed valves of the fruits. Latin scandens, means climbing, referring to the growth form of this species. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
References
| References | Sleumer, H.. 1984. Olacaceae. . Flora Malesiana, Series 1 . 10: 1 - 30 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33026 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7440 |
| 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. |