Micromelum minutum (G.Forst.) Wight & Arn. - RUTACEAE

Basionym : Limonia minuta G. Forst.

Synonym : Micromelum pubescens Blume

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Botanical descriptions Habitat and ecology Distribution

Botanical descriptions :

Diagnostic characters : Evergreen trees, bole sometimes fluted, twigs hairy. Leaves imparipinnate, with many translucent dots. Flowers bisexual in flat-topped inflorescences. Fruits berry-like orange.
Habit : Evergreen tree up to 10 m tall.
Trunk & bark : Bole straight, sometimes fluted, bark grey, smooth.
Branches and branchlets or twigs : Twigs terete, hairy.
Exudates : Exudate absent.
Leaves : Leaves compound, imparipinnate, alternate and spiral, leaflets 3-8 pairs, alternate, ovate to lanceolate, apex acute, base asymmetrical, glabrous or with fine hairs, minute translucent dots present, margin entire.
Primary vein single, secondary veins oblique, tertiary veins reticulate.
Stipules absent.
Inflorescences or flowers : Flowers arranged in a many-flowered inflorescence, terminal, bisexual, pedicels up to 3 mm long.
Fruits : Fruit berry-like, up to 1 cm in diameter, fleshy.
Seeds : Seed(s) 1-3.

Habitat and ecology :

Scattered in the under-storey of dense evergreen forest.

Distribution :

Australia (Queensland, New South Wales), Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, India (Andaman & Nicobar Is.), Indonesia, Malay Peninsular, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos (Khammouan).

Remark/notes/uses :
The young shoots are eaten in North Thailand. The leaves are used in the regulation of menstruation and to treat fever.

Specimens studied :
BT 90, BT 255, BT 511, BT 581, BT 791, BT 1046, LAO 131 (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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