Clausena excavata Burm.f. - RUTACEAE

Synonym : Clausena javensis DC.
Lawsonia falcata Lour.

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Botanical descriptions Habitat and ecology Distribution

Botanical descriptions :

Diagnostic characters : Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, leaflets alternate, with translucent glandular dots. Flowers bisexual. Fruits berry, white to pink.
Habit : Evergreen shrubs or tree up to 7 m tall.
Trunk & bark : Bole straight or sometimes branched from base, bark greenish-grey, smooth.
Branches and branchlets or twigs : Twigs terete, very finely hairy.
Exudates : Exudate absent.
Leaves : Leaves compound, alternate and spiral, finely hairy, imparipinnate, with translucent glandular dots; leaflets alternate 8-15 pairs, ovate or lanceolate, apex acute, base asymmetrical, margin toothed or not.
Midrib single, secondary veins obtuse, tertiary veins obscure.
Stipules absent.
Inflorescences or flowers : Flowers arranged in a many-flowered inflorescence, terminal or in the upper leaf axils, bisexual, pedicels up to 3 mm long.
Fruits : Fruit fleshy berry white to pink, up to 2 cm, gland-dotted.
Seeds : Seed(s) 1 or 2.

Habitat and ecology :

Common in evergreen and deciduous forest.

Distribution :

Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), India (North-East), Indochina, Malesia, Nepal, Thailand, Laos (Khammouan).

Remark/notes/uses :
Decoction of roots is used against fever, headaches and colic,infusion of stalks are taken orally for stomach aches. The leaves and bark contains essential oils used in the perfume industry.

Specimens studied :
BT 196, BT 387, BT 745, BT 788, BT 1001, BT 1020, LAO 49, LAO 50 (Herbarium of Faculty of Sciences-NUoL, NHN-Leiden and CIRAD-Montpellier).

Literature :
Gardner S., Sidisunthorn P. & Anusarnsunthorn V. 2000. A field guide to Forest Trees of Northern Thailand. Kobfai Publishing Project. Bangkok. Thailand.

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