Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.Moore - SYMPLOCACEAE

Basionym : Dicalyx cochinchinensis Lour.

Synonym : Symplocos javanica Kurz

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Botanical descriptions Habitat and ecology Distribution

Botanical descriptions :

Diagnostic characters : Evergreen trees with bluish fruits.
Habit : Evergreen tree up to 20 m. tall.
Trunk & bark : Bole straight. Bark smooth to densely pustular or chafy-flaky, dark brown to grey.
Branches and branchlets or twigs : Twigs terete, glabrous or hairy.
Exudates : Exudate absent.
Leaves : Leaves simple, alternate and spiral, narrowly elliptic, apex acute, base acute, margin toothed, glandular.
Primary vein single, secondary veins 8-16, oblique, tertiary veins reticulate.
Stipules absent.
Inflorescences or flowers : Flowers arranged in a many-flowered inflorescence, axillary or behind the leaves, bisexual, pedicels up to 3 mm long.
Fruits : Fruit drupe, up to 1 cm long, bluish, thinly fleshy.
Seeds : Seed 1.

Habitat and ecology :

Fairly common in the under-storey of hill evergreen forest.

Distribution :

Australia, Burma (Myanmar), China, India, Indochina, Japan, Malesia through New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos (Khammouan).

Remark/notes/uses :
The timber is used for heavier constrcution, e.g. house posts and frames.The bark is rich in tannin and is also used to produce a yellow dye.

Specimens studied :
BT 133, BT 173 (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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