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Useful Tropical Plants

Microcos paniculata

L.

Malvaceae


This species has often been confused in the literature with Microcos tomentosa (syn Grewia paniculata Roxb. ex DC., which has been mistakenly quoted as a synonym for this species[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Reports of the occurrence of Microcos paniculata from Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia (Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands) are questionable, because of the complicated taxonomy[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
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Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

+ Synonyms

Aris rugosa Lour.

Fallopia nervosa Lour.

Grewia glabra Jack

Grewia microcos L.

Grewia ulmifolia Roxb.

Common Name:

Microcos paniculata
Tree
Photograph by: Hungda
Creative Commons License
Microcos paniculata Microcos paniculata

General Information

Microcos paniculata is a deciduous shrub or tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall. The bole can be up to 50cm in diameter[
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Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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http://proseanet.org/
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Year
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Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

942
Title
Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) No. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
The Forest Herbarium; Bangkok.
Year
1986
ISBN
0495-3843
Description
A botanical journal, publishing papers on taxonomy (especially vascular plants), nomenclature, phylogeny, systematics, plant geography, and floristics; also morphology, palynology, cytotaxonomy, chemotaxonomy, anatomy and other relevant disciplines.

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Mixed deciduous and dry evergreen forest, often along streams, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height15.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
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Year
0
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Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
335
Title
Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
Publication
 
Author
Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
Publisher
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Year
1987
ISBN
 
Description
A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The purplish fruit is a globose to obovate drupe with a leathery skin, it is about 15mm long and 10mm wide[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Medicinal

The plant is reputed to cure indigestion, eczema, itches, typhoid fever, dysentery and syphilitic ulceration of the mouth[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

A decoction of the roots is used to treat coughs[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

An infusion of the leaves is taken as a cooling drink and to remedy indigestion. A drink prepared from the roasted and boiled leaves is given to children as a vermifuge[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

Loppings can be used as green manure[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

The leaves are considered eminently suitable for wrapping cigars, e.g. in the Andaman Islands[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Rope can be manufactured from the fibrous bark[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

The light to medium-weight hardwood is used for cabinet work[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Microcos%20paniculata>

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