Brucea javanica

Last updated

Brucea javanica
Brucea javanica along Bukit Juru Trail within Hutan Simpanan Kekal Bukit Juru in Kampung Kuala Juru, SPT District 20240915 094103.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Brucea
Species:
B. javanica
Binomial name
Brucea javanica
Synonyms [2]

Brucea javanica, commonly known as the Macassar kernels, [4] is a plant in the family Simaroubaceae. The specific epithet javanica is from Latin, meaning "of Java". [5] Other common names in English include Java brucea and kosam. [6]

Contents

Description

B. javanica leaves Brucea javanica along Bukit Juru Trail within Hutan Simpanan Kekal Bukit Juru in Kampung Kuala Juru, SPT District 20240915 094124.jpg
B. javanica leaves

Brucea javanica grows as a shrub or small tree to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. The tiny flowers (1.5–2 mm in diameter) are greenish white to greenish red or purple and occur in panicles. [5] There are separate male and female flowers on each plant, making it a monoecious species. The anthers are typically red. [4] In the northern hemisphere it flowers in June and July and sets fruit in July and August, in Australia it flowers from October to February and fruits from February to July. [7] [8] The fruit, which are drupes, measure up to 0.5 cm (0.2 in) long. [5] When ripe they are a black-gray color and they become wrinkled when dry. The seed is whitish yellow and covered with an oily membrane. It has compound leaves with typically 7–9 (but range from 3–15) ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaflets with serrate margins. [7] Each leaflet is 20–40 cm long at maturity and comes to a point at the apex. The leaves are covered with fine hairs that are most prominent on the veins and on the undersides of the leaves. All parts of the plant are intensely bitter. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Brucea javanica occurs naturally from Sri Lanka and India to China, Indochina, Malesia, New Guinea and Australia. [3] [5] Its habitat includes open areas, secondary forest and sometimes sand dunes. [5] In Australia it grows as an understory tree from sea-level to 500 metres (1,600 ft) altitude. [4]

Bruceolides

It contains quassinoid compounds called bruceolides. [9] [10] The plant is used in folk medicine to treat dysentery and malaria. [11]

References

  1. Liu, B.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Brucea javanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T88319896A147617680. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T88319896A147617680.en .
  2. 1 2 "Brucea javanica (L.) Merr". The Plant List . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Brucea javanica". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Brucea javanica". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kulip, Julius; Wong, K. M. (1995). "Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.". In Soepadmo, E.; Wong, K. M. (eds.). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). Vol. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 429, 431. ISBN   983-9592-34-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. Quattrocchi, Umberto (1999). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Vol. 1. CRC Press. p. 362. ISBN   978-0-849326-73-8.
  7. 1 2 3 "Brucea javanica (Linnaeus) Merrill, J. Arnold Arbor. 9: 3. 1928". Flora of China . Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 514. ISBN   978-0958174213.
  9. Roberts, M. F. (1994). "Brucea SPP.: In Vitro Culture and the Production of Canthinone Alkaloids and Other Secondary Metabolites". Medicinal and Aromatic Plants VI. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Vol. 26. pp. 21–45. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-57970-7_2. ISBN   978-3-642-63420-8.
  10. Chen, MW; Chen, R; Wang, SP; Tan, W; et al. (2013). "Chemical components, pharmacological properties, and nanoparticulate delivery systems of Brucea javanica". Int J Nanomed. 8: 85–92. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S31636 . PMC   3540955 . PMID   23319860.
  11. WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. World Health Organization. 2006. hdl:10665/42052.