Willughbeia angustifolia
Willughbeia angustifolia is a species of flowering plant, a woody monoecious vine in the dogbane family, that is native to Southeast Asia.[1]
| Willughbeia angustifolia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Willughbeia |
| Species: | W. angustifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Willughbeia angustifolia (Miq.) Markgr. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Name
Local vernacular names include gerit-gerit, gitaan, serapit and akar kubal madu.[1]
Description
The vine grows up to 60 m in height into the canopies of forest trees. The oval leaves are smooth, 2.6–20.5 cm long by 0.9–7 cm wide. The axillary inflorescences comprise short cymes of small white flowers. The fruits are round, yellow to orange berries 3–14 cm in diameter, with a latex-filled epicarp, containing small seeds embedded in a sweet orange sarcotesta.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in the Nicobar Islands, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and the Maluku Islands, where it is found in lowland and hill mixed dipterocarp forest up to an elevation of 500 m.[1]
Usage
The edible fruits are valued for their flavour, reminiscent of strawberries and raspberries, and are often sold in local markets.[1]
References
- Lamb, Anthony (2019). A guide to wild fruits of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo). p. 60. ISBN 978-983-812-191-0.