Litsea umbellata
(Lour.) Merr.
Lauraceae
Hexanthus umbellatus Lour.
Laurus fruticosa Reinw. ex Nees
Litsea amara Blume
Litsea cinerascens Ridl.
Litsea ferruginea (R.Br.) F.M.Bailey
Litsea gracilis Gamble
Litsea hexantha Juss.
Malapoenna amara (Blume) Kuntze
Malapoenna umbellata Kuntze
Tetranthera acuminatissima Blume
Tetranthera amara (Blume) Nees
Tetranthera angusta Nees
Tetranthera capitulata Miq.
Tetranthera faginea Miq.
Tetranthera ferruginea R.Br.
Tetranthera fruticosa Nees
Tetranthera merawas Miq.
Common Name:
General Information
Litsea umbellata is an evergreen shrub or a small tree usually growing around 3 - 9 metres tall with a bole around 20cm in diameter[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. The leaves are sometimes sold in local markets in Thailand..
Litsea umbellata is a very widespread species. Although there is a decline in its range and frequency, as well as a loss of quality of habitat, given the large extent of occurrence and the number of known localities in which it is found, coupled with the fact that it can grow in secondary vegetation, the species is not considered to be threatened on a global scale. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
2011- Title
- A revision of Litsea (Lauraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
- Publication
- Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 73(1): 81-178. 2021
- Author
- Kok R.P.J. de
- Website
- http://10.26492/gbs73(1).2021-07
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed treatment of the species
Range
E. Asia - Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to New Guinea
Habitat
Thickets or sparse forests in valleys or on hills; at elevations from 300 - 1,000 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. Lowland primary and secondary forests, and in open vegetation[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 7.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
2011- Title
- A revision of Litsea (Lauraceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
- Publication
- Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 73(1): 81-178. 2021
- Author
- Kok R.P.J. de
- Website
- http://10.26492/gbs73(1).2021-07
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very detailed treatment of the species
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - raw or cooked[
1748- Title
- Plants from the Markets of Thailand
- Publication
-
- Author
- Jacquat C.
- Publisher
- Editions Duang Kamol; Bangkok
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 947-210-5065
- Description
-
]. The young leaves are eaten raw in Thailand with a hot sauce known as Nam Phrik[
1748- Title
- Plants from the Markets of Thailand
- Publication
-
- Author
- Jacquat C.
- Publisher
- Editions Duang Kamol; Bangkok
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 947-210-5065
- Description
-
]. Older leaves are added to curries[
1748- Title
- Plants from the Markets of Thailand
- Publication
-
- Author
- Jacquat C.
- Publisher
- Editions Duang Kamol; Bangkok
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 947-210-5065
- Description
-
].
The leaf juice is used as a food colouring in various foods, giving a dark, greenish colour to rice[
1748- Title
- Plants from the Markets of Thailand
- Publication
-
- Author
- Jacquat C.
- Publisher
- Editions Duang Kamol; Bangkok
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 947-210-5065
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
